Monarch Pass BC 12-13

[lmyers]

Well, Monarch Pass finally recieved a respectable dump with 13" falling out of this last storm. I am heading up to do my first bc trip of the year, looking at maybe Perfect Trees or dropping over into the North Fooses Headwall or Pecker Face. Should be a good opportunity to dig around a little and get familiar with the early season snowpack. I usually do these trips solo, but anyone interested in joining me is welcome.

[salsasean]

i won't be around this weekend but would be intersted in making some turns in the season as i live in salida

[lmyers]

Originally Posted by salsasean

i won't be around this weekend but would be intersted in making some turns in the season as i live in salida

I used to distribute salsa for you through Bradford's a few years ago - great salsa - shitty company. Last season I spent over 50 days in the backcountry and skied from the summit of 5 of Chaffee counties 14'ers, solo. So hit me up if your headed into the backcountry and want company, I'm almost always ready.
As for the thin snowpack - it may not be tomorrow. In fact Monarch got another 3" this afternoon and more is in the forecast for this evening. My main concern is how well the new snow bonds to the suface hoar that developed over the last few days...time will tell.

[lmyers]

So the new snow didn't bond so well, I triggered a couple of small slabs that moved a little and then I was about to drop into this gladed slope:

<a href="Picoodle / screenie december Image" target="_blank"><img src="http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/...0m_6005acb.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by Picoodle.com" /></a>

When the whole fucking thing broke lose:
<a href="Picoodle / besi december Image" target="_blank"><img src="http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/...0m_fbd1104.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by Picoodle.com" /></a>

Considering the pitch of the slope and the fact that it was in tight trees I didn't expect it:
<a href="Picoodle / picture december Image" target="_blank"><img src="http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/...0m_243bbfc.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by Picoodle.com" /></a>
<a href="Picoodle / what you see while you re t december Image" target="_blank"><img src="http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/...0m_1eeccf1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by Picoodle.com" /></a>
<a href="Picoodle / photo december Image" target="_blank"><img src="http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/...0m_2e35aef.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by Picoodle.com" /></a>
Be careful out there, this is the time of year when unexpected things happen.

[Mike Harvey]

folks...be careful for a little bit on Monarch. It is as bad a start as I can remember up there and I not usually prone to these interweb warning posts. Two of my buddies triggered a slide on the pass on Saturday and yesterday I got an inbounds run to move with me just after patrol dropped the rope. Shitty early season depth hoar, high winds through the first couple of dumps, super frigid temps yesterday...it is kind of gnarly right now. Plus the snowpack is thinner here than many places around the State and things are going to slide to the ground. Cartwheeling through scree=bad day.

[RDNEK]

Harv we were up at monarch sunday. Not a ton of snow but starting to fill in. Thought about going to the bc up at indy pass but with the winds and the new snow ended up lookin like in bounds monarch was a good choice for sunday.

I also took a sled out solo at daybreak here around bv today just to see what conditions are like. The sunrise was great at -15 to -20 deg @ 12,136 ft.. Everything else sucked.. Had some coffee and came home. It needs some time to settle and fill in out there IMO.

Last year a slide in trees ran like that for 500+ yds... It would have beat a skier bad. Another super skechy - wierd - or normal snowpack startin for us here in Colorado..

[RDNEK]

dbl post

[danger]

be careful out there, the snowpack's pretty thin still. let me know in a few weeks and maybe i could join you as well.

dan