Glenn

The rain destabilizes the deeper layers causing instability now and likely for the next day or two. The snow pack will hold the warmth especially with rain in the pack, even if the air temps drop. With how wet PNW snow falls it will likely bond to whatever ice crust exists unless it is extremely smooth and dense. I don't find this likely. Even then I would expect it to bond reasonably well. Time is the best healer for snow packs though, and the new snow may not bond instantly. I don't know how much more snow is expected but that will likely play a bigger roll for instabilities this week than the bonding to the ice crust layer.

The little cliff in risk it looks clean.

This is what happens.

Avalung + Beacon makes more sense then anything else I've heard, a shovel and probe aren't useful in a tree well. You should be able to just pull them out. It's not a full burial, it's an awkward partial burial in soft loose snow. Still, I've waited at a chair for 20 min for someone. Injuries, lost skis, just stuck in flats, lots of reasons not to show up on time. Not all are worthy of a full ski patrol search. Just like a missing person isn't a missing person until 24 hours or whatever. Plus, how long do you wait? 5 min? Now all of a sudden you are running a search and your partner is wondering where you are. He starts a search as well. Radios help with the miscommunication, but then you have reception issues, interference from other mountain users and you have another "necessary" piece of equipment. There's tons of things you can do to reduce risk, but you will never eliminate it. Chances are risk homeostasis will have an effect on your choices. In the end, are you still getting the reward of a bouncy fun-filled romp through the trees or are you preoccupied with all the ways you can die and loading up on marginally effective safety practices. Do what you need to be in your comfort zone and by all means learn what the risks are. The advice listed in the thread is not bad, but it's usefulness is limited in all situations.

A powder day at whiteface has got to be awesome. I've only been at that hill with terrible conditions and it has still been fun every time.

I always figured mine would get overlooked for being way too shitty. Seems like that thinking isn't as rock solid as I hoped.

It's an unfortunate risk of riding trees. Falling face forward near trees is super dangerous, and it should be treated as deadly. I've been stuck in plenty of tree wells with air, and a few times my head was under. While the suggestions listed are helpful, they are also unrealistic. It's a rare case when you can really keep a group tight in many sets of trees. Also, tree wells are the biggest issue when things are still really soft. When the snow settles more, tree wells are far less dangerous. So you can probably find bigger spaced trees, and other out of the way spots to ski/ride, if the risk of tree wells is beyond your comfort level.

I'm betting if you don't at least have an appreciation for wine, you probably don't have much of an appreciation for beer except it gets you drunk and it's perceived as more manly than wine.

I'm disappointed with the lack of park shots. Honestly, isn't that what you cats ride everyday? If a park rat doesn't take the best skier/rider category I'll be disappointed. Unless there is a 30+ footer.

Add new pics to the gallery here: http://www.paskiandride.com/forums/gallery/category/13-2010-photo-contest/

1st week of the 10/11 photo comp. Here's the highlights: Getting good content on the site should be good enough but if it isn't... current purse is $50 for best pic, $50 for best skier/rider + knit warez.

I heard CB bumps didn't have any rhythm. They should probably seed them with a cat.

DAAAAAAMMMMMMMN. Wish I was going to Baker right now.

That site uses 297" as Bridger's average snowfall. Multiple other sources state it is 350". Not sure what to make of this, although they do blatantly lie in the snow reports. I haven't seen a mountain yet that doesn't though.

Get a second opinion from another shop. If you get the same answer, the guys are legit. If it's different, the other shop would LOVE to pick up a new customer in you. Also, no shop wants the liability of setting up a dangerous binding. The 2nd shop will not say yes to a dangerous binding.

Alta 0 looks good.

Bern.

I don't have a camera or a consistent partner right now. That's not really the point though. JHole has a big reputation outside of these boards and a bigger on inside. I've been frankly underwhelmed by everything posted. Low angle wind damaged snow, some crappy spray shots and a small air here and there. Where is the massively steep mountain that everyone talks about when they say how great Jackson is? I know it's there, I've seen some evidence elsewhere of it. The hype of this hill compared to the goods being produced is unfounded. Nearly any hill in the west can produce experiences equal to that we have seen in these threads. I know it doesn't have to be that way, but all I can do is keep asking for better stuff then what we've been seeing. I've been partial to most of the places I've ridden and gone back to, but I haven't provided them as the holy grail of resorts. I also HAVE provided way better content, you'll have to look into the archives a bit. I would think at a world class resort with new snow it would be a piece of cake to get some better shots than low angle powder. Maybe it's the best picture but not the best riding of the day. Sometimes it happens like that. I know Jeff can do better, and I'm trying to push him without hurting his feelings and getting my posts deleted. Bla bla bla too much talking. I'm buying a camera this week. Hopefully have some crappy point and shoot stoke of Bridger shortly. Also the second pic should probably be added to the photo comp.

... walking on eggshells so my post doesn't disappear. I think you can have a really good time if you seek to find the hidden steep gems of this storm cycle. 6 inches is enough to make a lot of stuff good. The stuff you are skiing can be found at most hills 2 weeks or more after a storm, but the stuff you are passing up will be complete garbage so much quicker. Wind MOVES snow way faster than it can fall out of the sky. Look for the leeward slopes; N facing based a quick look at the Jackson weather. Seriously you are a good skier, you can step it WAY up. Nice, where at? I don't watch the ocean for fronts, but the west coast looks dry a bone right now. Hope you guys get some freshness. Huh? Who said it was OB, and if it slid it would go like 30 feet tops.

Fair enough. Steeper stuff tomorrow?

... seriously? Ok let's try again. Those cliffs have lines with big wide open untracked landings. Why isn't anyone hitting them?

I'll take bad visibility and bad light everyday of the week if it means snow. Fortunately for Bridger it did mean snow. 8" of snow with heavy wind loading in zones. Super surfy. Hope you're getting some Jeff lets see the steeps.

So steeper stuff tomorrow then?

Welp I see Blue Mt still can't setup a wall ride.

Probably crashed because he was on his electronic device during landing.