Big thanks to Backcountry Access for sponsoring this avalanche education content. Check out the additional plethora of avalanche safety resources on their website.
Ever wondered if, through the power of super computing, an avalanche could be modeled to the extent that an AI system could gulp data gigs then spit out the chances of the slope you’re on ‘lanching you? One of the steps in this becoming reality is perhaps developing an algo that’ll truly simulate an avy. See the video below. Apparently you can check out these guys’ work in the movie _Frozen_. I suppose I have to watch that now. The previews horrified me so I never partook. Full reporting here.
The big news is of course K2 being skied by 30-year-old Polish alpinist Andrzej Bargiel. According to reports he made an impressively continuous descent. He began at the summit, only rappelled about 50 meters out of the entire enormous drop, and occasionally utilized the fixed ropes as a hand line. Looked legit to me.
ADVERTISEMENTI got scolded for not shouting about Bergiel, which I probably should have done. As penance for my transgression I compiled a link list of the better articles about the descent. Red Bull has good stuff, but remember they’re known for hyperbole. Planet Mountain is more level headed and journalistic. Enjoy, discuss.
Red Bull interview with Andrzej Bargiel, a bit vapid but interesting.
Planet Mountain story is short and to the point.
Rock and Ice Magazine summary of K2 climbing season holds interest to those of us in the mountaineering sphere. Apparently Bargiel’s brother used their filming drone to locate a climber needing a rescue, whose life was subsequently saved. Our local SAR team here in Colorado is big on drones, I’m told by the SAR guys they’re incredibly effective for search and rescue work.
The video below has rather gripping footie, as well as shots of the fixed rope spider web that adds an element of imperfection to mountaineering on the 8,000 meter peaks. Overall, “enjoy” a drone’s view of top level extreme skiing. Athletics of the variety most of us will never experience.
Okaaaay, to broaden our outlook past big mountains check this out — how you should really ski Salbach!:
The bitcoin detriment to the entire world’s energy economy is ludicrous. What’s this have to do with skiing? Simple, no matter how you cut it, increased electrical demand releases more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, which in turn probably eliminates winter somewhere, at some elevation. Worst is coal produced electricity, but don’t make the mistake of thinking hydro or even solar is guilt free. Building and maintaining any kind of electrical generation is an industrial process that does not come free. According to this article in Wired, the bitcoin miners of the world now collectively use the same kilowatts as the entire country of Austria! And we worry about running LED light bulbs…
Ever wondered why you feel better drinking black tea than you do after a few espresso? Could be simply because you’re not dosing on excessive caffeine. But tea contains wonderful chemicals. More here.
For those of you who use Marker Kingpin bindings: don’t forget the recall. I’ll leave it at that, rather than regurgitating their content.
The Kootenay nimbies are restless. More here.
More Canadian: In 1985, Ruedi Beglinger founded Selkirk Mountain Experience, which became legendary among the North American ski touring cognoscenti. It could be said he set the standard for dozens of “full catered” huts that now comprise the Canadian ski touring lodge industry. Read as he waxes retrospective.
Ski touring is taking over the world. You know that’s true when a formerly mechanized skiing operation caves to the demand of its customers for a human powered experience. Though $675 a day for two people must be a typo.
10 comments
Skiing with Ruedi is a multi-dimensional experience. My first time, in the mid-nineties, most in the group were ski professionals paying full freight. Whoa! I thought. There is more here to be got than bad jokes. Ruedi sneered discreetly at telemark gear. A seed was planted. Also, he used these weird bindings that weighed almost nothing, Dynafit.
Prior to that big bad day on La Traviata, I had skied it a number of times and thought it one of the less dangerous descents there. What did I know? What do I know?
If that video of Andrzej Bargiel isn’t a great ad for tech bindings and skinny skis, I dunno what is.
Looks like an Atomic Backland toe, isn’t it? And Salomon 88 mm skis?
@Eric
I believe the boots are Pierre Gignoux Black, most likely with some aftermarket modifications for extra insulation. Still boggled that regular AT boots (or in this case super lightweight ones) offer enough insulation not to lose one’s toes at 8000m.
Not to mention flying a drone at K2’s elevations and temperatures. Probably not electric. A lovely summer’s day on K2.
I’m not sure how I feel about the use of drones yet with something like this. Obviously I can see the utility in a huge dangerous project like this. We’ve come to accept computerized weather models to track the weather and spotters (sometimes in helicopters) with radios guiding the climbers/skiers down as standard for high risk endeavors, so I suppose this is the next step in the evolution. I even wished I had a drone recently on a committing “up & over” ski mountaineering venture were we were skiing out a line we didn’t climb up and had no idea of the conditions.
However, I hate to imagine that this will become standard practice and that Wildsnow will be doing reviews on packable drones for ski mountaineering like we now see with radios.
Not related to the content of the post, but:
I lost a TLT5 tongue and I’m looking for a replacement since I hope to get another season or two in the boot. I’ve tried contacting dynafit but haven’t heard back. So if anyone has a tongue for a 27.5 that they aren’t using I’d be to buy.
All suggestions other solutions are appreciated as well.
Thanks
Ola
Hi Ola, what is the actual size number as well as other stuff printed on the lower end of the tongue you still have? The tongues have a right and left, and the sizes overlap, so to check what we have I need to know the stats of what you’ve got. Lou
Hi Lou, I’m missing the right side, still have the left. On the upper side it says PA SX PEBA 27.5, on the bottom there’s an arrow pointing at 9 as well as some numbers in a circle which I don’t think are relevant.
” All suggestions other solutions are appreciated as well. ”
If you can’t find a spare TLT tongue I understand its possible to cut down/modify the tongues from Full Tilt alpine boots
Fun (and thought provoking) video from Cham-land about drones:
https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/alpinism/pilots-warn-drone-endanger-helicopter-rescue-safety.html
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