avalanche vail pass w/pics

[SKYJMPR]

Well it was around 8:30 a group ( 6 )of us headed back to shrine bowl to hit some fresh powder knowing av danger was high we all had beacons an some of us had 2-way radios, ok we were in bounds. Went off trail may 30-40 yards up on the hill didn't think it was a big deal we looked at the hill knowing ok, not gonna go very high just play for a little bit and move on and before i knew it O sh*t out of the right conner of my eye i saw like a wave of snow coming down the hill and it was about 5 feet from the tail of the sled. I got both feet on the left side of the running boards and pined it and watching were i was going and looking over my left shoulder thinking that was f***ing close. The the other 4 people that were on the trail ,thank god they had there sleds running also were in the way of the slide they got out to a save location. We all talked about and then played is some safe locations the rest of the day, here are some pics from today of the av and having fun, be safe and i did learn a leason.

 

[duke1n]

Cool, that hill slides every year. You sent your pics into 9news? They'll have a field day with this...

 

[dragon12]

Glad you made it out ok and with no damage other than needing a new pair of shorts. It looks like the conditions are petty ripe and anything could slide right now.

 

[bushy]

Wow, looks like a huge slide area! glad you guys are all safe. Just got your text message after getting back from the "blowies"

 

[trinitypowder]

That was a BIGG'n!!! You must still be on your Honeymoon to have that kind of luck! Glad everyone's ok. How was CP Paul?

 

[patnode]

Today was your lucky day, that is a massive avy...We rode along the Shrine bowl yesterday on the groomer, and I was nervous about passing through that area...

Avalanches don't always start from the top, disturbing the compression zone can cause slides as well...

Be careful out there...

 

[sledhead ut]

Wow, that looks like one he11 of a reality check.
Play it safe out there.

 

[skibreeze]

Sure looks like an awful big hill to be playing on when the avy danger is high.

 

[Kleiny]

glad your safe , someone wasnt so lucky just heard 2 died today in grand county, and one person was dug out, the details are not out yet

 

[Ex-Member]

man that's a huge slide...

glad everyone made it outta that one OK.

Wear beacons, ride safe... too many avy deaths already this season

 

[MtnDoo]

I've ridden under that bowl probably 100 times- watched people climb it in the spring, and it always seems to slide, but I've never seen it go that wide! Must have been attributed to the high winds we've had in Colorado this past few weeks. Glad no one was hurt.

MD.

 

[sleddin pete]

Was just up there on Wednesday,riding in Shrine meadow looking at the bowl.I've seen it slide every year since I've been riding there(99-00).This year is shaping up for a bad avy season.

Ride safe everyone,keep the thoughts of everyone you love in your mind when tempted to high mark in sketchy conditions.

My prayers go out to the riders we lost today in Grand Lake

 

[thecardiackid]

interesting experience

was there w/ the group - not that close - but about 50 yds from the end of it in the 4th picture.

saw most of it up close and personal - sort of in slow motion. and drove my sled into some trees off to the side. seemed like a good idea, till I realized it made it much harder to get going to see if anyone got caught in the slide.

 

[dragon12]

was there w/ the group - not that close - but about 50 yds from the end of it in the 4th picture.

saw most of it up close and personal - sort of in slow motion. and drove my sled into some trees off to the side. seemed like a good idea, till I realized it made it much harder to get going to see if anyone got caught in the slide.

Since nobody was injured or killed, I thought it was ironic that you got to experience an avalanche first hand on your first ride on the new sled. Also ironic is your screen name. Usually Nick is a great tour guide, make this ride a mulligan.

Hopefully you haven't put your sled for sale on craigs list yet and give it another chance. It is a fun sport, we just need to be completely aware of the terrain and conditions that surround us at all times.

 

[snowswat]

I was there, too. There were definitely some lessons learned. I will be playing it a bit more safe from here on out!

 

[thecardiackid]

Since nobody was injured or killed, I thought it was ironic that you got to experience an avalanche first hand on your first ride on the new sled. Also ironic is your screen name. Usually Nick is a great tour guide, make this ride a mulligan.

Hopefully you haven't put your sled for sale on craigs list yet and give it another chance. It is a fun sport, we just need to be completely aware of the terrain and conditions that surround us at all times.

I'm sure being new to this hobby helped my cause, cuz I was sticking to the mild stuff. The other guys, who I could see, were cruising around the base - not shooting up vertically / HM'ing. But that shows how these events can be extremely unpredictable.

The screen name is ala "old school" Cleveland Browns - so, I'm not a heart surgeon , And no, not selling anytime soon. It was definitely a 'eye opening' experience, but being a 40 yr old new to this, w/ a 600/144" - i think I'll be staying in the mild/safer POW.

 

[skibreeze]

But that shows how these events can be extremely unpredictable.

Exactly the opposite! The avy danger has been high for a while and they got more snow. That slide was very predictable. I was suprised to see that I didn't see more natural releases while down a wolf creek.

 

[Doo-er]

Great Pics, but they don't do it justice! Went riding up there today and rode by it, can't believe how wide that thing is. Glad nobody was in the area when it went.