How High Does The Avy Danger Have To Be Before You Stay Away From Potential Slide Zon

[Trashy]

Some good points here! This year has been an eye-opener for many, myself included! But as hard as I found it to stay off the steep stuff at first, changing my riding habits has been a good thing for me.... I have worked on some riding skills (carving in the powder on shallow slopes, riding in the trees, etc.) rather than being the dumb city kid with the big sled who goes straight for the biggest ugliest climb. Bottom line I am having more fun than ever, I know I have become a better rider this year and am going to return home to my family every time!

 

[apache]

no such thing as a safe mountain rider

the avalanche advisory is on "considerable", or higher 90% of the season on any given year.

if you're a mountain sledder and you don't ride when the advisory is "considerable" you're not riding at all...

all of you who would like to convince yourself that you you're completely safe are either not riding the mountains, not riding at all, or just lying to yourself.

if everybody followed the advisory properly our sport would be dead. even if you spend the time and dig holes, you don't know, because it could be totally different 30' away.

I agree that we shouldn't ride when the advisory is "extreme", and even stay of the slopes when its on "high". but what should I do when the advisory is "considerable"(as it is today)??? if I don't go when the avalanche advisory is on "considerable" I'm going to have less than a month a year of riding, might as well sell my sled.

I'm starting to think that a lot of this talk is just people trying to convince themselves that it cant happen to them because they are more educated, and cautious. when in reality it can happen to anyone who rides the mountains.

not trying to bash, just get an understanding, which I think I just got while writing this post.

the name of this thread should be:

"no such thing as a safe mountain rider"

 

[apache]

- Level 3, Considerable Danger: The snowpack is only moderately to weakly bonded in many places. Triggering is possible even with low additional loads, especially on steep slopes in the indicated aspects and altitude zones (see Chapter 8.3.2). Isolated slab avalanches can be released even from well outside the starting zone (remote triggering).
The danger of natural avalanches can vary greatly; in case of weak snowpack layering and shallow snow cover, medium-sized avalanches are to be anticipated only sporadically. If this danger level is announced after new snow or in connection with (daytime) warming, however, isolated large avalanches are likely as well, depending on the influence of the weather. Such conditions give rise to the use of explosives (especially in the case of new snow) or temporary closures (especially if temperatures are expected to rise) for exposed parts of transportation routes and, above all, the ski slopes that are subject to protection by technical measures. Backcountry touring and freeriding activities are inadvisable without experience and the ability to assess avalanche danger. Steep slopes in the indicated aspect and altitude zone are to be avoided as far as possible.
About 45 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.

45% of fatalities occur when the advisory is on "considerable" which is 90% of the season. by the way, the advisory was on "considerable" during the fernie avi.

I see a lot of people on here that sound like they would never get in to a bad situation because they are more educated, and cautious. can any of you people tell me how you manage to be a mountain sledder and not ride in "considerable" avi risk?

 

[inf306]

I agree. Everytime one sets out into mountain back country they inherit pretty significant risk. There are certain areas with lower exposure and wise travel routes and tactics can minimize that risk. Still, if you want to enjoy the mountains in all of their magnitude up close, you may pay the ultimate price and must be willing to do so. It's a sacrifice I'd make for the things I LOVE to do, being both skiing exposed lines and sledding in complex terrain. I can think of worse ways to go. Maybe my rationale is flawed and irresponsible but it's what I've come to terms with.

No matter how safe and prepared you think you are, **** can go south awful quickly out there.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

if I don't go when the avalanche advisory is on "considerable" I'm going to have less than a month a year of riding, might as well sell my sled.

No one is saying DON'T GO RIDE on these days!

That's the thing, it appears people see it as black and white. There is a middle ground.

GO RIDE, stay on smaller hills, less angle, in tight trees, meadows with fantastic powder. Stay away from the ZONES!

It isn't as if most of us have ONE area we CAN ride in and ONLY one area! And it isn't like that ONE area is ONLY made up of dangerous slopes.

GO GO GO to safer areas....... that's all!

 

[Original Tetonice]

It's pretty simple...........The AVY DANGER is HIGHEST in October when the snow starts to stick until JULY when the snow has melted.

OT

 

[dgiles]

It's pretty simple...........The AVY DANGER is HIGHEST in October when the snow starts to stick until JULY when the snow has melted.

OT

Here we go, another idiotic reply...

Ya know when you sound the dumbest, when you start to type until you stop.

 

[ArticDoo]

It's pretty simple...........The AVY DANGER is HIGHEST in October when the snow starts to stick until JULY when the snow has melted.

OT

OT, your going to scare everyone into summer sledding. I can brag... I was riding avy risk free one day last year! July 1st. (Canada Day) You did say till July. The water was a bit cool though.

 

[apache]

GO GO GO to safer areas....... that's all!

Ya that makes sense, but if you never climb anything when the advisory is on "considerable" you're not doing much climbing.