I did my last day on the sled a couple of weeks ago. The following week was cold, and from Denver I could see there was still a lot of snow on Mount Evans. So I took my snowboard up there for some late season runs.
There was almost foot of new snow that had fallen earlier in the week. The weather was cloudy but warm. The first run was ok, but a little tracked out. Seems too many people are in the backcountry now. We headed back up to the top to take a less popular line.
This line was a very steep, semi technical line. There is about 150 vertical of a straight shot, followed by a cliffy, rocky area. Below that, there is nice steep bowl area. There is a way around the rocky area. It involves a couple of turns in the open area, then cutting accross, above the rocks. That leaves you above the bowl.
So, I got to the top of the run first. My buddy arrived and I strapped on my board and took off. My plan was to make three turns in the open area, then cut accross to access the bowl. I made the first two turns and went for the third, a heel edge turn, and the snow started sluffing. Only the new snow, but it was heavy and wet. I have been in small sluffs like this before and have always gotten out of them easily. This time that was not the case. The snow above me also started to move. The sluff knocked me to me butt. I was not worried yet. The snow was moving super slow. I thought I was going to still be able to escape by just riding out.
I couldn't even stand up. I was trapped on a slushy, slow moving slide. Luckily, the snow wet enough so it kept me on top of it. The problem was that I was going over the rocky area, like it or not. Over I went, through the rocks. Fortunately I wasn't above the cliffs. I went over the rocks and down about 600 vertical into the bowl. I had managed to remain right side up during my trip, so I just had some bruises and a damaged board.
I had not bothered to even wait for my buddy to clip in. He didn't even see what had happened. I had assumed that since it was June, there was little avalanche danger. I had done the line in previous years, so I wasn't afraid of it. Next time I should probably excerise a little more caution.
I wish I had a picture to share with ya.
There was almost foot of new snow that had fallen earlier in the week. The weather was cloudy but warm. The first run was ok, but a little tracked out. Seems too many people are in the backcountry now. We headed back up to the top to take a less popular line.
This line was a very steep, semi technical line. There is about 150 vertical of a straight shot, followed by a cliffy, rocky area. Below that, there is nice steep bowl area. There is a way around the rocky area. It involves a couple of turns in the open area, then cutting accross, above the rocks. That leaves you above the bowl.
So, I got to the top of the run first. My buddy arrived and I strapped on my board and took off. My plan was to make three turns in the open area, then cut accross to access the bowl. I made the first two turns and went for the third, a heel edge turn, and the snow started sluffing. Only the new snow, but it was heavy and wet. I have been in small sluffs like this before and have always gotten out of them easily. This time that was not the case. The snow above me also started to move. The sluff knocked me to me butt. I was not worried yet. The snow was moving super slow. I thought I was going to still be able to escape by just riding out.
I couldn't even stand up. I was trapped on a slushy, slow moving slide. Luckily, the snow wet enough so it kept me on top of it. The problem was that I was going over the rocky area, like it or not. Over I went, through the rocks. Fortunately I wasn't above the cliffs. I went over the rocks and down about 600 vertical into the bowl. I had managed to remain right side up during my trip, so I just had some bruises and a damaged board.
I had not bothered to even wait for my buddy to clip in. He didn't even see what had happened. I had assumed that since it was June, there was little avalanche danger. I had done the line in previous years, so I wasn't afraid of it. Next time I should probably excerise a little more caution.
I wish I had a picture to share with ya.