Comments on: Rating & Grading Ski Descents – D System in Real Life http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/comment-page-1/#comment-36249 Lou Tue, 24 May 2011 13:48:45 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=391#comment-36249 As many of you know, snowboarder Joel Levenberg died as the result of an avalanche this past Saturday, May 21 2011, on Torreys Peak here in Colorado. Joel made some good contributions to our D System project above, and while I'd never met him in person he seemed like a very sincere and well meaning individual, as well as a lover of mountains and glisse alpinism. My condolences to Joel's family and friends. Lou Info here: http://tinyurl.com/3vz3lvb As many of you know, snowboarder Joel Levenberg died as the result of an avalanche this past Saturday, May 21 2011, on Torreys Peak here in Colorado. Joel made some good contributions to our D System project above, and while I’d never met him in person he seemed like a very sincere and well meaning individual, as well as a lover of mountains and glisse alpinism. My condolences to Joel’s family and friends. Lou

Info here: http://tinyurl.com/3vz3lvb

]]> By: John http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/comment-page-1/#comment-32257 John Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:11:53 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=391#comment-32257 I read through this and am glad to finally see some kind of rating system for backcountry ski runs besides the system appropriated from resorts (greens, blue, blacks). But, I think that having 23 (or however many) levels is a bit ridiculous. The more levels you have within a rating system, the more subtle the difference is between them. Making it this difficult to tell the difference between each level seems counterproductive. There has to be a golden number, somewhere above three and below 25, that gives the reviewer ample room between levels so as to actually understand the difference between two slopes. I read through this and am glad to finally see some kind of rating system for backcountry ski runs besides the system appropriated from resorts (greens, blue, blacks). But, I think that having 23 (or however many) levels is a bit ridiculous. The more levels you have within a rating system, the more subtle the difference is between them. Making it this difficult to tell the difference between each level seems counterproductive. There has to be a golden number, somewhere above three and below 25, that gives the reviewer ample room between levels so as to actually understand the difference between two slopes.

]]> By: AP http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/comment-page-1/#comment-27577 AP Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:51:23 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=391#comment-27577 HI Lou thanks for the great post! I think the current rating of D12 for Longs Peak North Face Cables Route is incorrect. The top section is 50 degrees + also skiing the crux slabs is gnar! Seems like most people these days rap the crux section. Also the rating for the Notch Couloir seems low D19? To my knowledge the Notch has never been skied without rope and has one mando rappel. A ski descent of the Notch that is off belay should rate higher than D19. Soon we will have a ski base jump rating... HI Lou thanks for the great post!
I think the current rating of D12 for Longs Peak North Face Cables Route is incorrect. The top section is 50 degrees + also skiing the crux slabs is gnar! Seems like most people these days rap the crux section. Also the rating for the Notch Couloir seems low D19? To my knowledge the Notch has never been skied without rope and has one mando rappel. A ski descent of the Notch that is off belay should rate higher than D19. Soon we will have a ski base jump rating…

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/comment-page-1/#comment-27567 Lou Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:20:51 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=391#comment-27567 Everyone, we're having some problems with comment spam attacks. As part of tuning my arsenal of anti-spam weapons I changed the comment "human verification" question. Just a reminder in case you're in the habit of slamming the answer in there. Lou Everyone, we’re having some problems with comment spam attacks. As part of tuning my arsenal of anti-spam weapons I changed the comment “human verification” question. Just a reminder in case you’re in the habit of slamming the answer in there. Lou

]]> By: Rune http://www.wildsnow.com/391/d-system-in-real-life/comment-page-1/#comment-27559 Rune Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:14:16 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=391#comment-27559 Pierre Tardivel and friends skied the Nant Blanc on the Verte i CHX back in June 2008 (and again in 2009). It was a slightly different route than Boivin/Siffredi - but he rated it 5.5 according to the toponeige system. See: http://www.skitour.fr/sorties/aiguille-verte,14023.html Could be interesting to see classics in the alps rated according to the D-system. Pierre Tardivel and friends skied the Nant Blanc on the Verte i CHX back in June 2008 (and again in 2009). It was a slightly different route than Boivin/Siffredi – but he rated it 5.5 according to the toponeige system. See: http://www.skitour.fr/sorties/aiguille-verte,14023.html

Could be interesting to see classics in the alps rated according to the D-system.

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