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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 7:40 PM
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| I want to copy Simon and do Elsay mountain. I've heard that the sun and/or rain can make the snow wet and it starts to slide. Is this very common? I can see it happen if it was salted and cars were travelling over it. Anyway, are these avalanches big enough to worry about? |
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 Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13048 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 8:10 PM
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| GH,send Simon an e-mail, maybe he can comment more on the conditions...(?)Sometimes those avalanches are indeed dangerous,the one I watched years ago on the Elsay Lake Trail would have buried and killed me,but I had already decided to turn back,because my knowledge of snow conditions was inadequate at that time...... |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 8:16 PM
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| Did you see the avalanche around runner's peak? Simon mentioned avalanches there and on west side of Seymour. |
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ass wigglin, cheese lovin, 4x4 drivin, apostrophe hatin, hiking chick who loves camping on snow
spaceship..
Canada
7209 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 9:31 PM
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| maybe take an avalanche course and get some education on the matter. |
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culmination point, B.C.
Canada
737 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 01:09 AM
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Is avalanche season over?
In a word: NO |
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Ladner, BC
Canada
1176 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 08:47 AM
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I thought he was a Colorado fan... in which case the season never started...
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The tougher the climb, the better the food tastes. -Lupin- |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 09:06 AM
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Below 4000' it is safe to say the avvy season is pretty much over.
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Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada
285 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 4:06 PM
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An easy way to tell is:
"If there is snow on the ground, it's still avalanche season!"
Avalanches can occur anytime year round aslong as snow is present |
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 4:08 PM
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| Meteors can hit the Earth at any time too but that doesn't mean you should worry about it. The fact that they don't even bother with updating the CAA bulletin during the spring, summer and fall should indicate that the relative avalanche risk during those months is generally low. |
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Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada
285 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 11:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
Meteors can hit the Earth at any time too but that doesn't mean you should worry about it. The fact that they don't even bother with updating the CAA bulletin during the spring, summer and fall should indicate that the relative avalanche risk during those months is generally low.
I'm not saying to be worried about the conditions, but you shouldnt ignore the possibility, especially when cornices are still looming overhead...
quote:
From the CAA website:
End Of Season: April 25, 2005 We no longer have the data or observations required to produce avalanche forecasts in any of the regions.
It may partly be because the risk is generally low, but the CAA relies heavily on the data and observations of the ski resorts, so when the ski hills close, there isnt the information they need to make accurate forcasts. |
Edited by - scairns on 05/06/2005 11:03 PM |
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Montreal, Quebec
Canada
328 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 10:37 AM
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I'm with Shadee on this one. Take a one day course which will enable you to determin the risk, by reading the signs in the snow, and make the risk assesment yourself. They'll also teach you about snow analysis, etc that will give you an "idea" of what's going on around you snow wise.
My 2 cents though, "...when in doubt, assume the worst and be carefull."
Also an Avalanche course will teach you to get yourself or others out of a slide.
Keep on trekking,
Foxtrots |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6908 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 1:43 PM
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quote:
Is avalanche season over?
I checked the BC Hunting regs, and while the avalanche season is still on, the baglimit unfortunately has been reduced, with size limits now being restricted to class 2 and under.
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"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it."
Mitch Hedberg
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 2:25 PM
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Oh Rats... You mean I have to throw this one back?
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 7:53 PM
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Well, I was on the west side of mt seymour today and did not bag any avalanches of any size. Decided to go up to runner peak but fell as I was skirting the north side of mt seymour. The snow gets quite wet and slippery in exposed areas. I held onto a tree for about 10 minutes and than ran home. I think I will go to mt elsay next time.
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Edited by - greenhorn on 05/08/2005 01:20 AM |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13048 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2005 : 9:58 PM
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| So I guess it's looking pretty good then? |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2005 : 01:15 AM
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| The trail beneath west side of mt seymour was free of snow in alot of places. The snow in the trees was nice and hard. Great for walking on with crampons. The bowl beneath runner peak and north side of mt seymour looked ominous. Simon went up to runner peak on jan 14, 2005 from that side. That area looks scary with all the snow that has slid down from runner peak. The mt elsay trail(indian arm) seems to stay clear of all the snow coming off of runner peak. Simon's tracks were still there. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2005 : 6:49 PM
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Fog prevented me from finding trail to Mt Elsay. Got as far as first view of Runner peak(no view today). Snow is wet and soft, but ok to walk in.
self-portrait:
Mt Elsay trail:
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2005 : 7:09 PM
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that beard looks suspiciously gnomelike!!!  |
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
13048 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2005 : 7:25 PM
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Well Greenhorn....
'Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man'
What next ,are you going to wear a pair of those pilgrim shoes ?You know,the ones with the buckles? |
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| LeeL
Advanced Member
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Extreme ski tourin, mountain bikin addict who hikes at least once a year
2506 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 9:13 PM
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| The valley you descend to go into Elsay is the major avalanche hazard. One look at the trees will tell you that. If you have decent visibility and can tell whether or not there are any objective hazards above you then go for it. If you don't know what's above you then perhaps hold off until you've had a chance to take a look. Otherwise my feeling is that the chance of a wet slide release enroute to Elsay would be relatively remote. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
610 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2005 : 10:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LeeL
The valley you descend to go into Elsay is the major avalanche hazard. One look at the trees will tell you that. If you have decent visibility and can tell whether or not there are any objective hazards above you then go for it. If you don't know what's above you then perhaps hold off until you've had a chance to take a look. Otherwise my feeling is that the chance of a wet slide release enroute to Elsay would be relatively remote.
You are right. It would be stupid to go down there in the fog not be able to see where the avalanches have occurred in the past and condition of snow on slopes. |
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Is avalanche season over?
