I’m really excited about all the feedback from the last blog post about skiing with a patroller and learning the ins-and-outs of Crystal. Kim and I will go through all the input and come up with a way to go over all your questions on Saturday February 18th. We’ll meet by the Easy Searcher on the South side… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Avalanche Hazard
Subscribe to Avalanche Hazard RSS FeedTour of Crystal through Patrol Eyes
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Closures, Conditions, Employment, News, Place Names, Safety Patrol/Speed ControlWho here would be interested in taking under an hour to ski with a patroller and go through some of the ins-and-outs of Crystal? We would like to offer a chance to ski with a patroller to our locals (you), in hopes to answer any questions you may have, share avalanche conditions, and ski some secrete… Continue Reading
Storming
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsThe past few days we ski patrollers have been a little busy. With the “Storm of the Century” upon us and a flip-flopping weather forecast on the heels of a busy holiday weekend, we’ve been remiss in updating the blog. So here’s a quick recap: Over the weekend, we were involved in several rescues off… Continue Reading
Free Avalanche Awareness Class
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Closures, Conditions, Place Names, WeatherCheck it out: Free Avi Course This is a great night of good people, some snacks, and a chance to gain the inside scoop into the avalanche conditions around Crystal. It is also a great time to get all your questions answered by patrol. It starts at 7pm in the Chapel and goes however late… Continue Reading
Snow!
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsIt’s 4am, it snowed, and we’re about to head out for avalanche control for the second day in a row. We got 8″ on the stake at my house and 10″ 13″ (updated at 5am) at the top. What’s more, it’s still snowing. Hard. For those of you that come to Crystal today you can… Continue Reading
Crystal Mountain Opening Tomorrow
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Closures, Conditions, Events and Activities, NewsIt’s finally here. The 2011-2012 Crystal Mountain Ski Season will commence tomorrow, Friday November 18th. We are starting with a limited opening, then hopefully adding more terrain over the weekend. Tomorrow the Gondola and Green Valley will be running for skiing in Green Valley only. Be sure to bring your rock skis and get ready… Continue Reading
Northwest Snow and Avalanche Summit Workshop
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Events and Activities, News, UncategorizedYesterday I attended the NSAS (Northwest Snow and Avalanche Summit) workshop in Seattle with 6 other Crystal Mountain Ski Patrollers and about 200 other interested people. There were some amazing speakers who gave informative lectures on their specific fields in avalanche research with incredible amounts of data an field work to back up their findings…. Continue Reading
Avalanche Dog T-Shirts For Sale
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Events and Activities, News2011/2012 Avalanche Dog T-Shirts are in!! Get yours by emailing Lisa Poncelet at lisamponcelet(at)gmail(dot)com. Adult short sleeve tee $20.00 Adult hoody sweatshirt $40.00 Adult zip/hooded sweatshirt $40.00 Kid’s short sleeve tee $15.00 Kids zip/hooded sweatshirt $30.00
What’s New at Crystal This Season
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Conditions, Events and Activities, News, Place Names, WeatherWith the prediction of another La Nina season, we’re hoping for a repeat of last year, with an early start and record snow. Or at least plenty of powder days and few major accidents. One can dream. A few changes at Crystal could have a big effect on the skiing. Here’s my top 3: Snowmaking… Continue Reading
What’s in your backpack?
Posted in Avalanche HazardBCA Float 30
Niagras Update
Posted in Avalanche HazardThis past weekend Crystal experienced some big avalanches. Rock Face, Bear Pits and Niagras all went big. In all of these areas, old timber ripped out from the force of the slides. In Niagras especially, an entirely new run was created. In fact the slide path tore the heavy timber wide open almost to… Continue Reading
Huge Slides at Crystal Today
Posted in Avalanche HazardDuring the past two days, we have had some very large avalanches at Crystal. Yesterday Rock Face slid to the ground.
Big Bertha Slide
Posted in Avalanche HazardHere are a few photos sent from Geoff Walker over at the Mt. Rainier National Park of the debris from the Big Bertha slide last week. Big Bertha is on the west side of Crystal Peak (seen from the top of the King) and the slidepath crosses Highway 410 in the park. Pretty scary stuff!
How to use an Avalanche Beacon
Posted in Avalanche HazardFor those of you looking for backcountry, or even side-country, freshies, and with all of the recent avalanche activity in the Cascades, there’s no excuse not to know how to use a beacon. Practice it now. It just might save a life someday.
Avalanche Video
Posted in Avalanche HazardSlab avalanche footage
Re: Taking Responsibility…
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ClosuresI started to write this as a comment in response to the other comments responding to Kim’s recent post about the guy who wouldn’t cough of the dough to reimburse Crystal for his after-hours, out-of-area rescue. But then I thought it would be better to post as it’s own entry, hoping more folks might see… Continue Reading
Mt. Hood Meadows Avalanche
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsWe’ve been hearing reports from people coming in from the backcountry (the true, non-avalanche-controlled backcountry) that conditions feel "solid" out there. This causes us some concern as we record some significant results while doing avalanche control within the ski area. If you need some motivation to pay attention to persistent weak layers deeper down, take… Continue Reading
Hullo. I’m a Crystal Mountain Traverser
Posted in Avalanche HazardMy name is Christina and sometimes I like to traverse. I start cursing when I’m skiing a waist deep line off the Throne in flat light and double eject onto a traverse track put in by people just skiing the lower field. But on the other hand, I thank our traversers, when I’m jonesing to… Continue Reading
“IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS” & HOW TO AVOID THEM
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ConditionsA customer mentioned that he thought it was irresponsible for Crystal Mountain to open as early as it did this season. Some people just don’t get it, do they? If you’re bringing friends or family who aren’t familiar with early-season conditions, always make it part of your responsibility to warn them about the increased possible hazards. With new snow on the way, remember there still hasn’t been much compaction in avalanche starting zones.
Early Morning as a Ski Patroller
Posted in Avalanche HazardThis was actually from CHRISTINA, and I forgot to post it back when it was snowing! 4:15 AM: Ring, ring. My phone wakes me up. “Hullo” I groan, full of sleep. “Christina, we are out the door at 6,” Says my fellow patroller doing the morning call-outs. “OK,” I mumble and roll back over; it’s… Continue Reading
Purty Pitchers
Posted in Avalanche HazardWilliam Richmond has a blog with some cool pics of Crystal and he reviews some of the skis he’s used. Check it out at http://williamrichmondski.blogspot.com/ I swiped one which is my fave, because I got caught in an avalanche just to the left after entering here once. (Actually it was ON an avalanche….I surfed down to the bottom… Continue Reading
FAIR WARNING
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, ClosuresI don’t know if you’ve had a chance to read Kim’s previous entries CLOSURE POACHING on March 30th and RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ABOUT CLOSURES on April 1st, but if you haven’t, this will make more sense if you take a moment to do so now. (dum-dee-dum-dee-dum) After repeated unfortunate encounters with guests not exercising common sense, we’ve… Continue Reading
PUPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY!
Posted in Avalanche HazardOn big-snow days we post dogs on top of the King, on top of High Cambell lift, and top of Northway–this should be a clue to you to ski with your partner and ski smart (not directly above your buddy so you don’t create an avalanche). And, when you see a cute puppy running down the hill you can politely ask the patroller if you can pet the dog, but please do not cause unneeded distractions because they are always in training and a valuable resource.
Statement From Avalanche Survivor
Posted in Avalanche Hazard, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesRead what avalanche survivor Mark Callaghan had to say about his experience getting caught just outside Crystal’s boundary last week. The news story video clip is here.
2011-12 Avalanche Dog T-Shirts for Sale
Click the photo to find out more!
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