F
fountaintirexp
Member
Any new snow yet curtis?
2009-2010 Valemount Conditions
- Thread starter Trashy
- Start date
D
depsnolvr
Well-known member
Riders are saying that Chappell still has a good foot of fresh from last weeks rain. Pictures of yesterday are up on Snowandmud.
Access to all areas is still in great shape. The parking lots are a bit bumpy, but Id rather have some snow to ride and unload on then scrape the parking areas to the mud.
Lower trails are not holding up well due to slushy warm weather, but once you gain a bit of elevation, they get back to normal.
Was in clemina yesterday and it was a blast, with blue skies and good spring snow.
Lots of riding left
Access to all areas is still in great shape. The parking lots are a bit bumpy, but Id rather have some snow to ride and unload on then scrape the parking areas to the mud.
Lower trails are not holding up well due to slushy warm weather, but once you gain a bit of elevation, they get back to normal.
Was in clemina yesterday and it was a blast, with blue skies and good spring snow.
Lots of riding left
sledders, our own worst enemy
I read this on another site and thought that it would be a good post here on SnoWest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This past weekend i was sledding in valemount as usual and had a rude awakening. im not trying to complain here i just have never ran into this situation before.
a rather large avalanche had been set off and someone very luckily escaped. needless to say about ten minuts later a group of 6 starting high marking directly beside the slide and underneath some large cornices with some very unsafe terrain traps. there were NO marks on this hill and for a very good reason. considering the area was tracked out and there were still no marks is usually a good indication this face is not safe to be on. i approached the group and asked them if they had not seen the avalanche they were riding beside?
they replied with yah it does look kind of "slidy" doesnt it...LOL. YAH sure does. i then told them that someone was already fortunate enough to make it out of there today already and i dont feel like having a rescue mission on my hands for such neglect. they started to get upset and i asked them to tell there buddies currently highmarking to lay off the hill or at least inform them. they tried to explain to me how there was some natural fall lines blahb lah blah..whatever. you clearly have never been to this area or valemount for that matter because i have seen this hill move many times and there was a GIGANTIC terrain trap at the bottom. there is no way you can convince me this is safe.
i moved on because it is not my place. they can do what they want i was merely trying to inform and was actually astonished at the stupidity of watching someone highmark a hill that had already slid 10 minuts earlier. but my advice didnt scare them and neither did the slide because guess what they kept going and i guess were lucky. maybe i was in the wrong for considering it an unsafe slope who knows.
heres where it gets even better..or worse? deffinetly worse.
i was riding in a very deffined area. very large caribou closure signs and very deffined boundaries ( tree lines and cliffs ). it just happened to be a bluebird day and mike weigle was out in full force flying over head with heliskiers. 2 choppers at least in the area. i looked across the lake ( out of bounds ) and noticed fresh sled tracks in an area that is EXTREMELY out of bounds and is VERY well marked. this was a heli run area weigle was using that day.
im not a fan of weigle but guess what he has the amo. i dont understand how some people do not understand this.
yes the area was tracked up.. so what gives you the right to venture off out of bounds past signs and into an untracked area where clearly no one else has been?
because we are for the most part educated on the boundaries and for the most part people were respecting this and realize if the snow is not good they can try again another weekend rather than ruining it for everyone. yes its always tempting looking over at that area but it is a NO go for obvious reasons. it is not hard to access but it is hard to miss the BRIGHT ORANGE 4'x4' closure sign blocking the access.
what if someone was hurt? blown up?..in that area... how good does that look on us when you have CLEARLY made a violation. this is not a grey area it is VERY deffined.
i noticed the group had just exited the area and were sitting at the entrance. i realize this is not my job but i was extremely angry and felt i should inform them. i pulled up and as i got closer i realized WOW ITS THE SAME GOD DAMN GROUP that was on the avalanched hill. go figure. my mind was blown at this point. i told them the area was out of bounds and tried to explain how the overflying helicopters are always watching and that they in fact are ruining this for us all. ( after they gave me some attitude)
they kept saying..WHERES THE SIGN? WHERES THE SIGN?
i looked around and didnt see the sign. i saw it earlier in the day so this means they either removed it or i was to flusterd to notice the big orange sign.
after this i got a threat.
"F*** YOU BUDDY get oout of here before i come after you just go ride im sick of your attitude. (something like that?) for those of you that know me i dont like confrontation so it took enough out of me to just approach these idiots (twice)
naturally i left since it was 1 against 6 and i felt they may actually attempt to hurt me if i didnt leave them alone and we were some of the last on the hill.
this may not seem like a big deal to anyone and i suppose it really isnt maybe i overreacted.. im just trying to get something accross here.
closures are closures. they are monitored.
EVEN IF THERE IS NO SIGN...it is up to YOU to educate yourself on the boundaries of the areas you are riding. or ask someone.
using the.."wheres the sign" trick does not work. some of these areas have hundreds of miles of boundaries would you like the local sled clubs and organizations to put bright yellow ribbon around the whole boundary like a crime scene? grow up. im 23 these guys were well over 40 how come i am being the respondsible one here.
if there is no tracks after it hasnt snowed for 2 weeks chances are you are out of bounds because the educated riders have already pushed the outside boundaries of the area.
you are not some genious who just discovered a new area.
like i mentioned before...if you dont like the snow and feel the need to break rules and ruin it for everyone else i dont welcome you to the areas we ride in. your not wanted. it wil snow again. pack up and try again another day and enjoy the nice weather. there will be more deep days for you this season yet.
i think scott said it best " pretty soon we will be able to ride up the allan creek trail to a lookout to where we used to be able to ride".
this concludes my rant and im sorry you have to hear it rather than the people that should be hearing it. but i think its time we start calling these goofs out.
when someone informs you about a boundary closure or an unsafe practice take their advice and say thankyou and move on. even make something up like im sorry i had no idea. i dont care. just dont threaten fellow sledders trying to help fellow sledders.
i have a new respect for people like curtis from varda and all the people from mcbride and blue river...revelstooke..everywhere who have to deal with this daily. its absolutely brutal.
sooooo
if anyone knows these guys. i dont really care if this part gets deleted but im calling you goofs out.
-silver turbo yamaha vector shorttrack
-2 red polaris dragons
-black turbo xp ( sure looked like a certain someones from a certain performance shop please say otherwise)
-greenish arctic cat ( main DBAG) LOL..
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._353964798111_515398111_3511926_4122172_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...7_353964813111_515398111_3511927_263676_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._353964823111_515398111_3511928_8248006_n.jpg
If anyone knows the owners of these trucks let them know we do not appreciate their kind getting our areas shut down because of their selfishness and total disrespect for the law riding in closed areas that VARDA has been fighting hard to keep open.
And then to threaten a person for just pointing out that the area they are sledding in is closed is unacceptable behavior in my opinion.
I read this on another site and thought that it would be a good post here on SnoWest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This past weekend i was sledding in valemount as usual and had a rude awakening. im not trying to complain here i just have never ran into this situation before.
a rather large avalanche had been set off and someone very luckily escaped. needless to say about ten minuts later a group of 6 starting high marking directly beside the slide and underneath some large cornices with some very unsafe terrain traps. there were NO marks on this hill and for a very good reason. considering the area was tracked out and there were still no marks is usually a good indication this face is not safe to be on. i approached the group and asked them if they had not seen the avalanche they were riding beside?
they replied with yah it does look kind of "slidy" doesnt it...LOL. YAH sure does. i then told them that someone was already fortunate enough to make it out of there today already and i dont feel like having a rescue mission on my hands for such neglect. they started to get upset and i asked them to tell there buddies currently highmarking to lay off the hill or at least inform them. they tried to explain to me how there was some natural fall lines blahb lah blah..whatever. you clearly have never been to this area or valemount for that matter because i have seen this hill move many times and there was a GIGANTIC terrain trap at the bottom. there is no way you can convince me this is safe.
i moved on because it is not my place. they can do what they want i was merely trying to inform and was actually astonished at the stupidity of watching someone highmark a hill that had already slid 10 minuts earlier. but my advice didnt scare them and neither did the slide because guess what they kept going and i guess were lucky. maybe i was in the wrong for considering it an unsafe slope who knows.
heres where it gets even better..or worse? deffinetly worse.
i was riding in a very deffined area. very large caribou closure signs and very deffined boundaries ( tree lines and cliffs ). it just happened to be a bluebird day and mike weigle was out in full force flying over head with heliskiers. 2 choppers at least in the area. i looked across the lake ( out of bounds ) and noticed fresh sled tracks in an area that is EXTREMELY out of bounds and is VERY well marked. this was a heli run area weigle was using that day.
im not a fan of weigle but guess what he has the amo. i dont understand how some people do not understand this.
yes the area was tracked up.. so what gives you the right to venture off out of bounds past signs and into an untracked area where clearly no one else has been?
because we are for the most part educated on the boundaries and for the most part people were respecting this and realize if the snow is not good they can try again another weekend rather than ruining it for everyone. yes its always tempting looking over at that area but it is a NO go for obvious reasons. it is not hard to access but it is hard to miss the BRIGHT ORANGE 4'x4' closure sign blocking the access.
what if someone was hurt? blown up?..in that area... how good does that look on us when you have CLEARLY made a violation. this is not a grey area it is VERY deffined.
i noticed the group had just exited the area and were sitting at the entrance. i realize this is not my job but i was extremely angry and felt i should inform them. i pulled up and as i got closer i realized WOW ITS THE SAME GOD DAMN GROUP that was on the avalanched hill. go figure. my mind was blown at this point. i told them the area was out of bounds and tried to explain how the overflying helicopters are always watching and that they in fact are ruining this for us all. ( after they gave me some attitude)
they kept saying..WHERES THE SIGN? WHERES THE SIGN?
i looked around and didnt see the sign. i saw it earlier in the day so this means they either removed it or i was to flusterd to notice the big orange sign.
after this i got a threat.
"F*** YOU BUDDY get oout of here before i come after you just go ride im sick of your attitude. (something like that?) for those of you that know me i dont like confrontation so it took enough out of me to just approach these idiots (twice)
naturally i left since it was 1 against 6 and i felt they may actually attempt to hurt me if i didnt leave them alone and we were some of the last on the hill.
this may not seem like a big deal to anyone and i suppose it really isnt maybe i overreacted.. im just trying to get something accross here.
closures are closures. they are monitored.
EVEN IF THERE IS NO SIGN...it is up to YOU to educate yourself on the boundaries of the areas you are riding. or ask someone.
using the.."wheres the sign" trick does not work. some of these areas have hundreds of miles of boundaries would you like the local sled clubs and organizations to put bright yellow ribbon around the whole boundary like a crime scene? grow up. im 23 these guys were well over 40 how come i am being the respondsible one here.
if there is no tracks after it hasnt snowed for 2 weeks chances are you are out of bounds because the educated riders have already pushed the outside boundaries of the area.
you are not some genious who just discovered a new area.
like i mentioned before...if you dont like the snow and feel the need to break rules and ruin it for everyone else i dont welcome you to the areas we ride in. your not wanted. it wil snow again. pack up and try again another day and enjoy the nice weather. there will be more deep days for you this season yet.
i think scott said it best " pretty soon we will be able to ride up the allan creek trail to a lookout to where we used to be able to ride".
this concludes my rant and im sorry you have to hear it rather than the people that should be hearing it. but i think its time we start calling these goofs out.
when someone informs you about a boundary closure or an unsafe practice take their advice and say thankyou and move on. even make something up like im sorry i had no idea. i dont care. just dont threaten fellow sledders trying to help fellow sledders.
i have a new respect for people like curtis from varda and all the people from mcbride and blue river...revelstooke..everywhere who have to deal with this daily. its absolutely brutal.
sooooo
if anyone knows these guys. i dont really care if this part gets deleted but im calling you goofs out.
-silver turbo yamaha vector shorttrack
-2 red polaris dragons
-black turbo xp ( sure looked like a certain someones from a certain performance shop please say otherwise)
-greenish arctic cat ( main DBAG) LOL..
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._353964798111_515398111_3511926_4122172_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...7_353964813111_515398111_3511927_263676_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._353964823111_515398111_3511928_8248006_n.jpg
If anyone knows the owners of these trucks let them know we do not appreciate their kind getting our areas shut down because of their selfishness and total disrespect for the law riding in closed areas that VARDA has been fighting hard to keep open.
And then to threaten a person for just pointing out that the area they are sledding in is closed is unacceptable behavior in my opinion.
Last edited:
T
tranquillicer
Well-known member
Closures
Seems like you were fighting a battle you could not win that day. Too bad someone or some group of someones is trying so hard to close off all the areas that wildlife wants to venture into. Seems to me from my limited experience in caribou country that the animals in question are actually taking advantage of the terrain sledders are creating for them and possibly following the movement of sleds in the area as it clearly allows for easier movement on their part over the packed-out snow. I personally witnessed several animals at Allen Creek on fri and they seemed quite content to frequent the areas where sleds have been for the last 5 years that I've been around there and I suspect they have been doing this for many years prior. This was in no way a closed area either. In fact every area we travelled in Allen Creek and Oasis was littered with caribou tracks(and unfortunately some human garbage) so one has to assume that they are doing quite well in the midst of tourists and sledders alike.
I agree that Mr. Weigle would love to scout and document all unauthorised movement of sledders in caribou country and subsequently gain closure of those areas so he could overfly and drop guests of his operation in all sorts of new terrain and that we need to honor all closures as they are posted, but these animals know no boundries and roam freely throughout vast areas so I believe encounters with humans are inevitable whether they be on sleds, quads, mt bikes, skiis or on foot.
As for the avy savy, or lack there of, I was impressed that someone, I'm assuming from VARDA, made a point of approaching every group in the parking lot at Allen on Sat. morning and asked them to be aware of the potential for slides that day.
I'm a visitor to these areas and I truely appreciate everything everyone out there does to create and maintain access to such amazing terrain. I wish people would just acknowledge and respect what organizations like VARDA have to do to allow this to continue to be available for everyone and if you feel like you need to be an *** to someone who cares or drop your crap in someone elses back yard then I for one would rather you just stayed at home.
Seems like you were fighting a battle you could not win that day. Too bad someone or some group of someones is trying so hard to close off all the areas that wildlife wants to venture into. Seems to me from my limited experience in caribou country that the animals in question are actually taking advantage of the terrain sledders are creating for them and possibly following the movement of sleds in the area as it clearly allows for easier movement on their part over the packed-out snow. I personally witnessed several animals at Allen Creek on fri and they seemed quite content to frequent the areas where sleds have been for the last 5 years that I've been around there and I suspect they have been doing this for many years prior. This was in no way a closed area either. In fact every area we travelled in Allen Creek and Oasis was littered with caribou tracks(and unfortunately some human garbage) so one has to assume that they are doing quite well in the midst of tourists and sledders alike.
I agree that Mr. Weigle would love to scout and document all unauthorised movement of sledders in caribou country and subsequently gain closure of those areas so he could overfly and drop guests of his operation in all sorts of new terrain and that we need to honor all closures as they are posted, but these animals know no boundries and roam freely throughout vast areas so I believe encounters with humans are inevitable whether they be on sleds, quads, mt bikes, skiis or on foot.
As for the avy savy, or lack there of, I was impressed that someone, I'm assuming from VARDA, made a point of approaching every group in the parking lot at Allen on Sat. morning and asked them to be aware of the potential for slides that day.
I'm a visitor to these areas and I truely appreciate everything everyone out there does to create and maintain access to such amazing terrain. I wish people would just acknowledge and respect what organizations like VARDA have to do to allow this to continue to be available for everyone and if you feel like you need to be an *** to someone who cares or drop your crap in someone elses back yard then I for one would rather you just stayed at home.
D
depsnolvr
Well-known member
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
The need for self policing is definately there, but the last thing I would want was for someone to get hurt, so please choose your battles accordingly.
THANKFULLY, we were blessed with approx 10-30cm of snow in the Allan Creek riding area this week and conditions yesterday were awesome. Depending on where the wind took it, you could find upwards of 50-60cm in loaded places.
I would imagine that Chappell would have the same great snow, but not certain of clemina.
The need for self policing is definately there, but the last thing I would want was for someone to get hurt, so please choose your battles accordingly.
THANKFULLY, we were blessed with approx 10-30cm of snow in the Allan Creek riding area this week and conditions yesterday were awesome. Depending on where the wind took it, you could find upwards of 50-60cm in loaded places.
I would imagine that Chappell would have the same great snow, but not certain of clemina.
Here is a post from another site that I cut and pasted from the culprut that rides cariboo closed areas and threatens members that point out that they are riding in a closed area.
Highmarkm8
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: fort mcmurray
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Mood
Re: sledders, our own worst enemy
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Hey f$$k bag why don't u tell the truth about what happened, GOOF. First off u came over to my group and said someone got barried in a slide in the same spot LAST YEAR, you dumb a$$. Cant remember that? Like the conditions are the same every year! But you would know that because your 23. And yes there was a SMALL slide where there was lots of snow on a rock face.
Second your tone of voice was out of line.Thats you got the "F$$K off".The sign you were talking about was almost buried It was our first time at this place. And like we were the only tracks there! And how did u know that those were our trucks. O u must have smelt the 100LL burning out of the 4 turbo sleds. So before u take picture and post them on the number 1 sled talk website.Tell the f$$king truth so you don't sound so immature DBAG. O wait thats me, the 25 year old on the black bd m8.Hey Maxwell Smart didn't your mom tell u to respect your elders hahaha. Sorry you guys all had to hear about this juvenile story.
Highmarkm8
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: fort mcmurray
Posts: 6
Casino Cash: $13900
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Blog Entries: 1
Mood
Re: sledders, our own worst enemy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey f$$k bag why don't u tell the truth about what happened, GOOF. First off u came over to my group and said someone got barried in a slide in the same spot LAST YEAR, you dumb a$$. Cant remember that? Like the conditions are the same every year! But you would know that because your 23. And yes there was a SMALL slide where there was lots of snow on a rock face.
Second your tone of voice was out of line.Thats you got the "F$$K off".The sign you were talking about was almost buried It was our first time at this place. And like we were the only tracks there! And how did u know that those were our trucks. O u must have smelt the 100LL burning out of the 4 turbo sleds. So before u take picture and post them on the number 1 sled talk website.Tell the f$$king truth so you don't sound so immature DBAG. O wait thats me, the 25 year old on the black bd m8.Hey Maxwell Smart didn't your mom tell u to respect your elders hahaha. Sorry you guys all had to hear about this juvenile story.
T
tranquillicer
Well-known member
Hmmmm
Young,Big bucks,Big truck,Big sled,Big attitude. He may get a chance to grow up if he can get his head out and look around a bit. I'm sure its just as hard on the recovery team when they dig up someone like this. Too bad so many sledders will get lumped into the same category as this guy. I'm sure not everyone that works at Ft. Mac is like this either.
Young,Big bucks,Big truck,Big sled,Big attitude. He may get a chance to grow up if he can get his head out and look around a bit. I'm sure its just as hard on the recovery team when they dig up someone like this. Too bad so many sledders will get lumped into the same category as this guy. I'm sure not everyone that works at Ft. Mac is like this either.
D
depsnolvr
Well-known member
It has been raining a bit at the lower elevations, so people should be prepared for bare and or slushy parking lots.
BUT, the rain down low, has come as fresh snow up high
PLEASE play safe out there. Snowmobiling is a safe as the decisions you make throughout the day. Do everything you can do to limit your exposure to large terrain.
BUT, the rain down low, has come as fresh snow up high
PLEASE play safe out there. Snowmobiling is a safe as the decisions you make throughout the day. Do everything you can do to limit your exposure to large terrain.
T
Trenchmaster
Well-known member
We are heading up next Monday, hope there is some fresh left. Stay safe out there guys!!
I will leave all the alpine stuff for ya.... gonna be mostly loggin' this weekend!
T
Trenchmaster
Well-known member
The guys I'm going with will all be riding old 136" retro sleds on this trip, so we won't be ripping up the big stuff. Should be interesting!!
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