Busy Avi week.

The CAIC web site reported that during the week of Feb 11th to Feb 18th, 14 people and 1 dog were caught in avalanches. One of those people was killed, it was the person on a hut trip in the Ridgeway area.

Here is the snowpack summery from that report:

Snowpack Summary
The fracture occurred where the newer stout snow slab was sitting on the old layer of facets that formed early in the season. The slide looks like it was triggered in an area where the slab was thinner (50 cm) and propagated to where it was thicker (80 cm). Slope angle (where we believe the slide initiated) was 46 degrees, though varied from 50 to 36 degrees across the slope. The slide initiated below a cliff band and ran over another small cliff band and through a forested area.

What jumps out to me are the slope angles.

From my last Avalanche class it was eye opening just how many people have no idea about slope angles or how to measure them.

I'll write more on this later.

One more thing, does anyone think 2 people a day being caught in slides is bad. I do!!

We need more education, way more.

The end of Avi Awareness February.....

Yesterday was the last Avalanche Awareness class at Keystone. February is Avalanche Awareness month. Let's just say it went out with a ......whimper. We had just a few people sign up and I taught the class by myself. One thing that was nice was having so few people allowed me to get very detailed about some things in the program.

So, next year I have some ideas. I want to contact some of the bigger avi gear vendors and get co-op dollars to help with advertising. I want to advertise our classes 3 weeks before the first one begins and advertise once a week during February. I want to get coupons from Wilderness Sports in Dillon for 10% off a shovel, beacon, probe purchase. Lastly, i want to get a Tracker Beacon from BCA to give to one of our students. It'll given out by pulling a name out of a hat and it'll be announced via our last ad.

I do hope that this will fill our classes back up and maybe from this we can have more classes and not just in February.

More Stickers Please........

I love this sign we have at the entrance to North and South Bowl. Every year more and more stickers show up.

Check it out, I'm rocking the big fat Black Diamond Justice's with Bd's 01 Tele Binding. That would be the big fat red skis leaning on the sign. These things rock in the powder. On this day i actually found some powder but it wasn't easy. By the way, I hate the binding.

What goes with Valentines Day? MONSTER TRUCKS!!!

Well, Camille and I couldn't help it. We both had never been to a Monster Truck Jam so what better day to have our first......Valentines Day.

What a blast!!! The pic above was a drag race between Grave Digger and Monster Mutt. Monster Mutt lost but was our favorite. I mean who wouldn't love a big truck shaped like a dog with flappy ears.

Can't wait till next Valentines Day.

Ok.....what gives!!!???!!??!????

Hmmmmmmmm......walked into Patrol Headquarters yesterday and all I could smell was bacon. What gives!!??!??!



I turn the corner and I see the new ski patrol director and the new supervisors cooking brecky for the whole patrol. What gives???!!?!!?



I guess nothing gives.....these guys are just awesome and like to treat us nice. The surprise was wonderful and started the day off great.

Keep it up boys!!!

Cool Daddy-O

Yeah that's right Mo Fo.....don't chu be mess'n wit me!!!

Wow, i don't even know where this pic came from, it was just on my phone. I think it might have come from my trip to Aspen for the X-Games. I must have taken it while driving and sent it to someone......hmmmmm, isn't texting while driving against the law?