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Trail Reports: 2009-2010 Season01/23 - 01/24/2010 and 01/31/2010 Avalanche 1 ReportThe Avalanche 1 course was a great success. The first weekend was spent going over a broad range of information about snow conditions that can to an avalanche, variations in snowpack, types of snow crystals, angle of slope, and so on. We spent an afternoon practicing beacon searches, and another full day studying snow in the field--digging snow pits, practicing various tests for snow pack stability, and finishing with a rescue scenario involving multiple beacon and organized probe searches. The next Sunday we spent in the Castle Peak area near Lake Tahoe, splitting into groups to work on safe route selection while traveling in potential avalanche terrain, and more snow tests and rescue scenarios. All participants found the class challenging, immensely informative, with excellent leadership and instruction.
--Submitted by: Andy Padlo 01/30/2010 Patrol ReportPatrollers:
Last Saturday, Andy, Vincent, and I took the opportunity to ski with Tahoe Backcountry in the Castle Peak area, before the third and final day of the Ave 1 course on Sunday. In the early a.m., the Von Kaenel express drove us swiftly to the SnoPark next to the Boreal, where we met up with David Kaisel and consort, who were very enthusiastic to have us ski along. We had a good group: four patrolers and eight guests, including us, our friends Marusa and Uli and three other prospects. We divided gear amongst all patrolers and guests: brooks range sled, suction devices and airway, mega mitt shelter, sleeping bags. Then, we split up in two teams, Andy and Vincent (Non European Union) went with Jim R. as lead patroler, whereas Uli, Marusa and I (EU) went with David K., Carlo and Marc. Before we started we discussed the avalanche danger (low, with pockets of moderate) and the skier that had set off an avalanche near Sugarbowl on Thursday. We skinned up the back of Andesite Peak, where we had lunch in the mega mitt to get some sheltee form the cold weather and snow showers. Then, it was time for some great powderturns off the west face. There was a thin of a raincrust under several inches of nice soft powder which made for great skiing and some nice faceplants. We then skinned up to the ridge near Castle Peak. Here, some snowshoers were almost jumping on a cornice: an avalanche disaster waiting to happen! David kindly suggested stepping back a bit and the oblivious snowshoers thanked him for the information. Maybe they should have joined the Ave 1 class! Time for some more powderturns into Round Valley, before heading back up again to the saddle, and out to the trailhead over the “toboggan ride.” Near the trailhead we met Mike, Gilles and Dominique, who were going snowcamping with other Ave 1 candidates. What a great day of skiing! In general the patroling activities of Tahoe Backcountry are very similar to ours, with the obvious difference of the terrain. Because of the large amount of reasonably fresh snow, the avalanche awareness was very high. And, since there were no comfy Dodge lifts to take us up, the physical activity was high, too. Luckily, these guys hardly see any incidents, similar to us. The good thing of TB is that they have two caches with gear in the area. Big crates in dead trees, with ladders leading up to them, containing a cascade toboggan, sleeping bags and other gear, should someone become stuck. Thanks to David and the others for hosting us, and hopefully we'll do it again before another four years pass. 
--Submitted by Anna Alderkamp Archived Reports2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Current |