Please adhere to Avalanche warnings

[sled*dunk]

I was forwarded an email this morning stating that some test pits were dug in Sublette County. The testers state that this is the worst avy conditions they have seen in 15 years. They drew a diagram showing sun crusts, faceted layers, surface hoar etc. They say they saw several slides in Granite Creek and heard that a large slide was caused by a sledder in the Blind Bull area. The rider survived but his sled didn't.
It appears all of western WY will be plagued by these weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack.
I just want to encourage everyone to be careful.

I also know that "Wyoming State Trails', Chris McNeil, will present an avalanche awareness class on January 6 at the Pinedale Library Lovatt Room, starting at 6:00 pm.

Weather and conditions permitting, a site will be announced during the Friday class for the field practical on Saturday, January 7.

All winter backcountry enthusiasts invited.
Please bring all your avalanche equipment to class (beacons, probes, shovels)."

Our club isn't sponsoring this event, but I do feel it's important to attend if you haven't been to a class this year. Chris has done classes for us in the past and they are great.

Be safe!

 

[WyoRMK]

Great post sled*dunk, I just want to add we have a classroom session coming up on Jan 13th with Chris as well here in Southeast Wyoming. Visit http://www.srscwy.com/AvyClassJan2012.htm for more information!

 

[coyoteman]

The freezing rain the snowies got last week is enough to make a person pucker.

 

[sled*dunk]

The freezing rain the snowies got last week is enough to make a person pucker.

That isn't good at all.

 

[keylen]

1-3-12 Avy

Here are a few pictures from an avy today that my friend set off. Thankfully he was able to side hill out of it and make it safely back down. We were careful all day and new about how high the avy danger was. Its not a real long hill but pretty steep, we guessed that the crack at the top was anywhere from 4-6 feet. Pretty scary to see happen especially to a friend. Anyway be safe out there!!!

 

[coyoteman]

Exactly. The layer of ice we rode in was not good. Thought at first I had something wrong with sled. It was just the sound of the ice crunching as we rode through it. There is nothing to hold it all together.

 

[Ritfire73]

Exactly. The layer of ice we rode in was not good. Thought at first I had something wrong with sled. It was just the sound of the ice crunching as we rode through it. There is nothing to hold it all together.

Where abouts were you when this occured? We are going up tomorrow and would prefer to avoid that kind of Russian Roulette.

 

[keylen]

Video of slide

working on getting the video of todays slide up here, we were up on togwotee it seemed like everywhere we rode hills had slid i believe we counted 12 slides today!

 

[sled*dunk]

working on getting the video of todays slide up here, we were up on togwotee it seemed like everywhere we rode hills had slid i believe we counted 12 slides today!

Thank you for sharing. I think pictures can really settle into a person's mind (I hope) that the danger is real and happening out there. So glad your friend made it out okay!

 

[Racer220]

Conditions are terrible all over. Rode in Island Park 12/31/2011 and there was a 2"-3" layer just under the wind blown snow that is going to pose a serious hazard. It sounded just like glass shattering every time the skis would break through it. And there is a ton of wind loading after the storm that came through last week. Hard to believe after last years snow levels, but people are going to have to get used to riding trees and meadows a majority of this year if we want to keep incident numbers low.

 

[sled*dunk]

Lots of snow coming our way this week. Everyone is going to want to hit the fresh powder.
The avalanche danger is going to be high, please pay attention. Just stay off the hills.
Let's get through this next week with NO accidents or deaths.