Comments on: Absorb the Punch — An Avalanche Story http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:22:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Vinter http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/comment-page-1/#comment-11490 Vinter Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:54:18 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1454#comment-11490 There are in our mountains (in Hibins, they are in the very north of Russia) every year some skiers get into avalanches. Main cause of avalanches here - warm weather and sun - and cold nothern wind and snow on the other day, as it is usually in spring. So lower layer has icy crust and over it there is new layer of snow, which easily can move down the slopes. There are in our mountains (in Hibins, they are in the very north of Russia) every year some skiers get into avalanches. Main cause of avalanches here – warm weather and sun – and cold nothern wind and snow on the other day, as it is usually in spring. So lower layer has icy crust and over it there is new layer of snow, which easily can move down the slopes.

]]> By: Matt Kinney http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/comment-page-1/#comment-11474 Matt Kinney Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:47:47 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1454#comment-11474 Whippets come back to haunt me!!! (smiley) Good point, but getting swept down a mountain with whippets in both hands could present a number of other hazardous issue to one's body. A shallow small volume slab is not an much of an issue ti it meets a terrain trap with you in it. Whippets come back to haunt me!!! (smiley) Good point, but getting swept down a mountain with whippets in both hands could present a number of other hazardous issue to one’s body.

A shallow small volume slab is not an much of an issue ti it meets a terrain trap with you in it.

]]> By: Randonnee http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/comment-page-1/#comment-11473 Randonnee Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:21:06 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1454#comment-11473 I got flipped in spite of "digging in." In my story below, I was flat on the crust dug in with the pole self-arrest- tips dug in- and on my ski edges. I weigh over 200 lbs., and in spite of being dug in and lying down against my pole tips, I was launched end-over-end. It was very fluffy snow that avalanched a few hundred feet only to produce that force. Perhaps the shape of the terrain and the flow characteristics of the avalanche would be a factor to allow "digging in." For example, one may duck behind a small ridge, roll, rock, or here in the Cascades perhaps a 3 to 4 ft diameter tree. I got flipped in spite of “digging in.” In my story below, I was flat on the crust dug in with the pole self-arrest- tips dug in- and on my ski edges. I weigh over 200 lbs., and in spite of being dug in and lying down against my pole tips, I was launched end-over-end. It was very fluffy snow that avalanched a few hundred feet only to produce that force.

Perhaps the shape of the terrain and the flow characteristics of the avalanche would be a factor to allow “digging in.” For example, one may duck behind a small ridge, roll, rock, or here in the Cascades perhaps a 3 to 4 ft diameter tree.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/comment-page-1/#comment-11472 Lou Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:44:18 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1454#comment-11472 Indeed, Whippets can be useful for that sort of thing. But everyone, don't get the idea you can anchor to the slope and an avalanche will wash over you. Only a small, low volume one could do that. Otherwise it'll push you (or blast you) off your stance. Indeed, Whippets can be useful for that sort of thing. But everyone, don’t get the idea you can anchor to the slope and an avalanche will wash over you. Only a small, low volume one could do that. Otherwise it’ll push you (or blast you) off your stance.

]]> By: Tony http://www.wildsnow.com/1454/alaska-avalanche-story-chugach/comment-page-1/#comment-11470 Tony Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:29:50 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1454#comment-11470 Perhaps a situation where whippets could be of use? Like Matt's encounter, it would have to be a relatively shallow slab/sluff moving on a firm bed surface - not much use digging in to a firm slab if it is the firm slab itself that is moving. Perhaps a situation where whippets could be of use? Like Matt’s encounter, it would have to be a relatively shallow slab/sluff moving on a firm bed surface – not much use digging in to a firm slab if it is the firm slab itself that is moving.

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