Avalanche risk on groomed trails.

[mtbarr64]

WIth all these issues in Snoqualmie Pass, how does that relate to the groomed trails?

Is there a greater risk on areas like Woods and Steel?

Does this only apply to the true outback areas?

Newbie who wants to know the real risk even on trail areas.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

Any place a groomed trail goes past a hill that is a greater slope than about 25 to 30 degrees, and you are in avy terrain just being on the trail in that area.

The people in the cars that were hit by avy's yesterday while driving I-90 most likely did not think about avy's, but they were in avy terrain.

 

[yammadog]

I've also been thinking about runout. If you are in a valley 100yards away from the nearest slope, I would think you'd be careful of a big slide making it that far....

What would be a safer distance from the end of a slide once it hits flat bottom? I know it would depend on lots of stuff, but something to think about when you go looking to avoid them.

 

[Duvall Dean]

Blewett Pass

You know that huge avy alley on the way to Haney Meadow from the
Summit snow park? that area scares the crap out of me, even when
there isn't avy danger. Luckily, I know a back way to get there that
is much safer. Lots of places on the way to the tower when you
launch at Kachess snowpark that have the heebee jeebee pucker
factor as well (other side of GC). What are some places you know
about that scare you ???


DD

 

[OrganDonor]

Glacier Creek sno park has runouts that go over the groomed trail. I've had to shovel away at the deposit to get by. Mainly on the way up to lookout mountain.

I suspect gold creek also has areas that can slide across the groomed trails also, I've never seen a slide there, but plenty steep enough in parts.

 

[NWGooser]

I always felt pretty safe on the groomed trails until I went to an avy class. Now I look around and there are several places that make me a little leary. One in particular is up by the Highrock road at Skate Creek. There is a steep face up there that gets a pretty heavy wind load up top.
It's funny but when my daughter and wife go riding with me it seems like I always have a little tickle of nerve on the back of my neck, I guess it's the over protective dad gene We all wear beacons probes and shovels but nothing is a better tool than knowledge and awareness.

 

[BroT]

You know that huge avy alley on the way to Haney Meadow from the
Summit snow park? that area scares the crap out of me, even when
there isn't avy danger. Luckily, I know a back way to get there that
is much safer. Lots of places on the way to the tower when you
launch at Kachess snowpark that have the heebee jeebee pucker
factor as well (other side of GC). What are some places you know
about that scare you ???


DD

Yep...that one scares the heck out of me too. We usually skedaddle through there one at a time and really fast...

 

[nwm8]

dont have to worry this weekend, there is no groomed trails. Went a little ways up G.C. today, WOT on the roads. It's deep, dont bother.

 

[minytallpines]

like nwm8 stated. gonna be balls deep on the trail. oh wait thats if we are able to make it over. once im over the summit it can snow all it wants. i wouldnt mind taking a week off on the sled due to being snowed in haha

 

[Powderboy]

You know that huge avy alley on the way to Haney Meadow from the
Summit snow park? that area scares the crap out of me, even when
there isn't avy danger. Luckily, I know a back way to get there that
is much safer. Lots of places on the way to the tower when you
launch at Kachess snowpark that have the heebee jeebee pucker
factor as well (other side of GC). What are some places you know
about that scare you ???


DD

About 13 years ago I rode through that spot on the way to Haney and we stopped to re-group and chat. When we got ready to go my pull cord broke. While I was tearing apart my recoil 2 guys came around us and went through. Right after they passed a small slide came down. When we finally got rolling we had to bust up and over the avy that came down across the road. Only years later after knowing better did I realize what morons we were for even stopping there. Truthfully snowmobiling was a lot more enjoyable in those early years before I knew the real risks. I was hit by a small slide 3 years ago at Gallager and was buried up to my thigh and 3/4 of my sled was covered. That shook me up pretty good.

 

[Summertime Blues]

. gonna be balls deep on the trail. oh wait thats if we are able to make it over.

It is going to be balls deep even if you don't make it over

 

[minytallpines]

very true... but now that i think bout it, it will be more then balls deep for you riders over 30.

 

[rynokron]

WIth all these issues in Snoqualmie Pass, how does that relate to the groomed trails?

Is there a greater risk on areas like Woods and Steel?

Does this only apply to the true outback areas?

Newbie who wants to know the real risk even on trail areas.

if you ride out of woods and steel there is definatly some avalanche areas around windy pass. for the most part the tanuem manashtash trail system is pretty safe imo.

 

[powder Head]

We took a very throughl Avy class last weekend at Baker, 11 hours. I would encourage everyone to take it. I know it opened my eyes. That's why I wouldn't ride at Baker or Gold Creek until things settle. Rob to answer your runout question it's twice the distance of where the top of the slide could start. That's worst case but, I would always use that as my rule of thumb, after the class and especially this year. Be safe out there folks...........

 

[rmkboxer]

if you groom a trail and there is a hillside you cut the bottom off the hill, I think it is very unstable and I have have been there when someone got hit with the avalanche that barely missed my wife and got someone else and him and his sled were pushed into a tree and broke his nose. this was in the gold creek area

 

[Island Sled Head]

A few years back we were heading out or Goldbridge north of pemberton in our rig driving around the lake. We were saying what a great ride we had and everyone was safe from the avy's. We seen and heard plenty that trip. This was in the spring maybe april and the snow line(Dirt and rock till there) was at least 3000 ft above our elevation at the lake. A large slide came off the mountain across the rode and into the lake. I would have bet you all the money I had that there was zero chance of and Avy considering i could not even see snow where we were. Boy was I wrong! That was an eye opener.
In the mountains anything is possible even if you can not even see snow from your location! Be careful everyone.

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

You know that huge avy alley on the way to Haney Meadow from the
Summit snow park? that area scares the crap out of me, even when
there isn't avy danger. Luckily, I know a back way to get there that
is much safer. Lots of places on the way to the tower when you
launch at Kachess snowpark that have the heebee jeebee pucker
factor as well (other side of GC). What are some places you know
about that scare you ???
DD

You got that one right Dean. That one really worries me. Our group goes one at a time. When it's my turn, Im alway looking up, but ready to drop over the side and race it down to the bottom if I ever have too?????

Someboby hear tell up about Harts pass....Heard rumors, but never been up there yet....