What a scary story but I am glad to know you are recovering after such a close call. Thanks for sharing your experience as a reminder to all of us who venture into the snow covered mountains.
The best to you.
Most of the Mesa is fairly tame, both in topography and avalanche frequency below the edges. THe day we skied the Avy forcast was LOW.
Mesa is Spanish for table and is said to be the world's largest flat-top mountain. The Crag Crest on top is the most alpine in nature and more serious with slide potential. The top rim though is 100-300 foot tall Basalt cap that on the west face has very few gaps allowing passage without a rope. Not many bother coming to the west face. From Montrose you will love the views and access to Mt. Sneffels and the San Juans. I think that Court House, Chimney, and Dunsinane to Coxcomb Peak are awesome looking. Dr. Suess' western version of the Italian Dolomites... Visit the LOKI office under the Colorado National Monument sometime! Wilkomen!
I have to ask...
I understand the desire and drive to ski & climb a line that finally had enough snow to ski but why take the unnecessary risk of skiing something on snowpack that statewide, has been and is largely, still horrible?
Even yesterday, in the trees and slightly above treeline down in the Mosquito's, we set off some of the largest whoomfs and collapes I've ever heard or seen. One collapse had to have easily been 40'-50' in diameter.
Thunderbird may have had skiable snow finally, but it was definately not in shape to ski.
Just my .02 of course, but seems extremely reckless & risky. GLAD TO SEE you made it out ok without further injury...been paying attention to this story for a few weeks.
Forecast was "low" for that day. I agree, I usually don't ski "mountains" before May. I prefer to ski on very consolidated spring snow, and even at that I'm usually skiing for travel to stay above the crust.
We were scraping a lot of ice most of the run, I therefore was caught off guard. There was basically a hollow sugar hole where I tried to cross back to our run-out. I'm lucky to be discussing it at all. I'm very lucky my thrashing didn't do mortal damage. Be careful yourself, this year has been bad. I won't ski for a couple years so get some safe ones for me. Where in the Mosquito's were you? Are you on patrol?
There was a 14er gathering via 14ers.com up Sherman, Horseshoe and Co. A buddy and me decided to do a couple lower points further south of Fairplay. Most of the unconsolidation occured between 10,800ft--11,200ft. I kept hoping all day that those wind-loaded east slopes on Sheridan and Peerless didn't let loose due to someone glissading (a lot of novices). In 20 years, I've never seen a swiss-cheesed, dangerously uneven snowpack like this.
That X-ray pic is nuts!
Not on Patrol...just spend a lot of time in the BC. Was up in the hills south of Cameo today. Warm weathr was nice! ;o)
Heal quickly dude!!
Just had a friend break her spine in a few places after a fall. Luckily she had 911 reception, and was airlifted to a trauma center quickly; but all this stuff is sobering.
Sobering indeed. sorry to disappoint. I'm no powderhound out of bounds in season. I thought this was safe and sound, especially when we were scraping icy turns on most of the run. There really wasn't very much snow at all either. As some`of the photos indicate, there is dirt showing next to the lower part of the Serpent Chute. The spot that cracked exposed foot thick blocks of solid snow. The sugar hole underneath was very dry and cold, just not congealed from the 13 hours of freeze time. bla bla bla.
My best to your friend. Misery does not love the company of others to suffer. I'm really in pain. Especially during rehab. I'm so fortunate my wife covered us with good insurance through her work, and that I get to spend slow time with her and my energetic baby son. Thanks for reading.
Seth, I read about your accident on WildSnow shortly after it happened, but had not heard how things turned out. It's great to see you're OK. It's crazy how dangerous certain places can be on "green" days.
I fell near the top of KT22 at Squaw, no avalanch but a long scary fall. Can't imagine have snow surronding my body as I fell. Glad you're ok, Good luck with all recovery!! Nice photos and interesting reading.
I wrote about my Squaw Valley trip two weeks before this happened. I worked up the nerve to drop into national couloir (I think that's the name) on the Palisade. Steep drop in for sure. Not sure Ski area's qualify for SP interest but I was ver impressed with the terrain and beauty of Squaw. very cool. I think in some ways being in the whirling snow-globe may have saved me though not by much margin...
I think it was an article you had written about the thunderbird before that made me pay close attention to it from there after. Now everytime I look at it I think about what happened to you up there....glad you made it through alright (relatively speaking)! Get better soon.
Thanks for your concern and paying attention. I failed miserably in my mission this time. I want the Mesa's "town face to be a viable option to enjoy an outing with 4500' of gain. The North Turret is maybe a 12-14 mile round trip. The two times I've climbed from the south edge of Watson creek blowout to the Swan's Neck and Pal Point and up the T-bird, we started in the evening, camped, got up early and were picked up at Lands End at noon-2 PM. By leaving at 4-5 AM, the round trip could be don in a day no problem, with good legs. How was your Gilpin Climb. Scary scree fest? Nice view? That's on my list. Perhaps in 2012 we could head out for a climb. A safe one.
North Turret sounds like an interesting area...I've had a hard time obtaining any beta on that area so I've pretty much put it off for the time being. The info you wrote here is the most I've seen. Now that I have something to work with I might try it out.
My Gilpin trip was a wash....made it to the ridge that separates yankee boy and blue lakes....it was a bit early in the season and I didn't feel comfortable taking on the final heavily corniced ridge to the summit. Hit me up anytime. -Nick
I made up the term North Turret, but I think its a fitting title.
To the south is Palisade Point, further still south is Indian Point, it may have a name I'm not aware of, it could also be called: Mesa Point, Radio Point, Nexrad Point, Tower Point,
Ute Point, North Point, Thunderbird Point/Face... I still like North Turret.
It's a neat place for a day's outing with good vertical gain without driving hundreds of miles to higher peaks. Finding a more bramble free route would be ideal... Gilpin will be summer 2012 at the earliest. If I heal properly. Thanks for the well wishes and banter. ;]
Cheeseburglar - Apr 15, 2010 12:46 am - Hasn't voted
Heal up!
Hope the healing goes well. Those are nasty breaks!
Can you spend your down time inventing some kind of magical thing for pants? Maybe an extra sock in case you get a sock wet, you just take your wet sock off and whip out the dry one from within the pants somewhere? Or maybe a whip out gaitor? that would be cool.
Looking at that picture, I probably would have thought there were too many trees for that to slide.
How come this doesn't show up on the CAIC's accidents page? I did find it with a query.
to release. A couple for pants... boot pants are one for wood floors at least ;]
The docs here, Dr. Dolecki and Narrod did amazing work. St. Mary's really is one of the best hospitals in the US. Doc's live here with less pay to be a part of the community, the scenery and activities within reach.
I have more photos from SAR that show the avi runout. I am even luckier than I knew. There is a very narrow rutted-channel that it ran down. It split just above the last cliff to a flat landing. I was spit (or perhaps cantilevered, hence double hyper extended knees) onto a hummock in the middle with a skinny tree to grab onto above the cliff. Had I continued down either drop I would have fallen 80 feet to boulders then buried, or 50-60 feet to softer landing, then buried. Thanks for interest. Oh, I'm not sure about the CAIC. Ann reported it. I'm told its been up and down a couple times. I'd like to see it as well.
Loki may adjust our marketing budget to support CAIC. A lot of folks benefit from it while at the same time it seems a lot of folks have been getting in trouble with slides this season. Perhaps its is in the news more? China has been having major accidents from mining and quakes.. don't hear much about their woes.
Dean - Apr 4, 2010 8:47 am - Voted 10/10
Whoa !!What a scary story but I am glad to know you are recovering after such a close call. Thanks for sharing your experience as a reminder to all of us who venture into the snow covered mountains.
The best to you.
seth@LOKI - Apr 4, 2010 9:27 am - Hasn't voted
Thanks DeanI'm so glad to be alive. I'll be healing a year or two before I can do much adventure. I'll live vicariously through SP for a while...
Liba Kopeckova - Apr 4, 2010 9:54 am - Voted 10/10
wow...thanks for sharing your story. I hope that you recover well.
I would imagine that Grand Mesa offers such a danger! I am moving to Montrose in July..
seth@LOKI - Apr 4, 2010 1:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Mesa usually tameMost of the Mesa is fairly tame, both in topography and avalanche frequency below the edges. THe day we skied the Avy forcast was LOW.
Mesa is Spanish for table and is said to be the world's largest flat-top mountain. The Crag Crest on top is the most alpine in nature and more serious with slide potential. The top rim though is 100-300 foot tall Basalt cap that on the west face has very few gaps allowing passage without a rope. Not many bother coming to the west face. From Montrose you will love the views and access to Mt. Sneffels and the San Juans. I think that Court House, Chimney, and Dunsinane to Coxcomb Peak are awesome looking. Dr. Suess' western version of the Italian Dolomites... Visit the LOKI office under the Colorado National Monument sometime! Wilkomen!
SoCalHiker - Apr 4, 2010 6:09 pm - Voted 10/10
I am glad...... it turned out well at the end and you survived. Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you all the best for your recovery. Cheers.
seth@LOKI - Apr 6, 2010 12:50 am - Hasn't voted
me tooI just finished a round of wheel-chair bacci ball.
Kiefer - Apr 11, 2010 11:28 am - Voted 10/10
So...I have to ask...
I understand the desire and drive to ski & climb a line that finally had enough snow to ski but why take the unnecessary risk of skiing something on snowpack that statewide, has been and is largely, still horrible?
Even yesterday, in the trees and slightly above treeline down in the Mosquito's, we set off some of the largest whoomfs and collapes I've ever heard or seen. One collapse had to have easily been 40'-50' in diameter.
Thunderbird may have had skiable snow finally, but it was definately not in shape to ski.
Just my .02 of course, but seems extremely reckless & risky. GLAD TO SEE you made it out ok without further injury...been paying attention to this story for a few weeks.
seth@LOKI - Apr 12, 2010 6:20 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: So...Forecast was "low" for that day. I agree, I usually don't ski "mountains" before May. I prefer to ski on very consolidated spring snow, and even at that I'm usually skiing for travel to stay above the crust.
We were scraping a lot of ice most of the run, I therefore was caught off guard. There was basically a hollow sugar hole where I tried to cross back to our run-out. I'm lucky to be discussing it at all. I'm very lucky my thrashing didn't do mortal damage. Be careful yourself, this year has been bad. I won't ski for a couple years so get some safe ones for me. Where in the Mosquito's were you? Are you on patrol?
Kiefer - Apr 12, 2010 11:42 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: So...There was a 14er gathering via 14ers.com up Sherman, Horseshoe and Co. A buddy and me decided to do a couple lower points further south of Fairplay. Most of the unconsolidation occured between 10,800ft--11,200ft. I kept hoping all day that those wind-loaded east slopes on Sheridan and Peerless didn't let loose due to someone glissading (a lot of novices). In 20 years, I've never seen a swiss-cheesed, dangerously uneven snowpack like this.
That X-ray pic is nuts!
Not on Patrol...just spend a lot of time in the BC. Was up in the hills south of Cameo today. Warm weathr was nice! ;o)
Heal quickly dude!!
MoapaPk - Apr 12, 2010 5:47 am - Voted 10/10
soberingJust had a friend break her spine in a few places after a fall. Luckily she had 911 reception, and was airlifted to a trauma center quickly; but all this stuff is sobering.
seth@LOKI - Apr 12, 2010 11:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: soberingSobering indeed. sorry to disappoint. I'm no powderhound out of bounds in season. I thought this was safe and sound, especially when we were scraping icy turns on most of the run. There really wasn't very much snow at all either. As some`of the photos indicate, there is dirt showing next to the lower part of the Serpent Chute. The spot that cracked exposed foot thick blocks of solid snow. The sugar hole underneath was very dry and cold, just not congealed from the 13 hours of freeze time. bla bla bla.
My best to your friend. Misery does not love the company of others to suffer. I'm really in pain. Especially during rehab. I'm so fortunate my wife covered us with good insurance through her work, and that I get to spend slow time with her and my energetic baby son. Thanks for reading.
jackstraw0083 - Apr 12, 2010 12:36 pm - Voted 10/10
Scary StuffSeth, I read about your accident on WildSnow shortly after it happened, but had not heard how things turned out. It's great to see you're OK. It's crazy how dangerous certain places can be on "green" days.
Marmaduke - Apr 13, 2010 2:49 am - Voted 10/10
Wow, how scary.I fell near the top of KT22 at Squaw, no avalanch but a long scary fall. Can't imagine have snow surronding my body as I fell. Glad you're ok, Good luck with all recovery!! Nice photos and interesting reading.
seth@LOKI - Apr 13, 2010 2:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Wow, how scary.I wrote about my Squaw Valley trip two weeks before this happened. I worked up the nerve to drop into national couloir (I think that's the name) on the Palisade. Steep drop in for sure. Not sure Ski area's qualify for SP interest but I was ver impressed with the terrain and beauty of Squaw. very cool. I think in some ways being in the whirling snow-globe may have saved me though not by much margin...
dakotaconcrete - Apr 14, 2010 12:09 am - Voted 10/10
Hope your healing process is smoothI think it was an article you had written about the thunderbird before that made me pay close attention to it from there after. Now everytime I look at it I think about what happened to you up there....glad you made it through alright (relatively speaking)! Get better soon.
seth@LOKI - Apr 18, 2010 11:50 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Hope your healing process is smoothThanks for your concern and paying attention. I failed miserably in my mission this time. I want the Mesa's "town face to be a viable option to enjoy an outing with 4500' of gain. The North Turret is maybe a 12-14 mile round trip. The two times I've climbed from the south edge of Watson creek blowout to the Swan's Neck and Pal Point and up the T-bird, we started in the evening, camped, got up early and were picked up at Lands End at noon-2 PM. By leaving at 4-5 AM, the round trip could be don in a day no problem, with good legs. How was your Gilpin Climb. Scary scree fest? Nice view? That's on my list. Perhaps in 2012 we could head out for a climb. A safe one.
Thanks!
Seth
dakotaconcrete - Apr 19, 2010 6:35 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Hope your healing process is smoothNorth Turret sounds like an interesting area...I've had a hard time obtaining any beta on that area so I've pretty much put it off for the time being. The info you wrote here is the most I've seen. Now that I have something to work with I might try it out.
My Gilpin trip was a wash....made it to the ridge that separates yankee boy and blue lakes....it was a bit early in the season and I didn't feel comfortable taking on the final heavily corniced ridge to the summit. Hit me up anytime. -Nick
seth@LOKI - Apr 24, 2010 1:17 pm - Hasn't voted
Grand Mesa's NorthTurret etc.I made up the term North Turret, but I think its a fitting title.
To the south is Palisade Point, further still south is Indian Point, it may have a name I'm not aware of, it could also be called: Mesa Point, Radio Point, Nexrad Point, Tower Point,
Ute Point, North Point, Thunderbird Point/Face... I still like North Turret.
It's a neat place for a day's outing with good vertical gain without driving hundreds of miles to higher peaks. Finding a more bramble free route would be ideal... Gilpin will be summer 2012 at the earliest. If I heal properly. Thanks for the well wishes and banter. ;]
Cheeseburglar - Apr 15, 2010 12:46 am - Hasn't voted
Heal up!Hope the healing goes well. Those are nasty breaks!
Can you spend your down time inventing some kind of magical thing for pants? Maybe an extra sock in case you get a sock wet, you just take your wet sock off and whip out the dry one from within the pants somewhere? Or maybe a whip out gaitor? that would be cool.
Looking at that picture, I probably would have thought there were too many trees for that to slide.
How come this doesn't show up on the CAIC's accidents page? I did find it with a query.
seth@LOKI - Apr 18, 2010 11:33 am - Hasn't voted
There are Loki inventions yetto release. A couple for pants... boot pants are one for wood floors at least ;]
The docs here, Dr. Dolecki and Narrod did amazing work. St. Mary's really is one of the best hospitals in the US. Doc's live here with less pay to be a part of the community, the scenery and activities within reach.
I have more photos from SAR that show the avi runout. I am even luckier than I knew. There is a very narrow rutted-channel that it ran down. It split just above the last cliff to a flat landing. I was spit (or perhaps cantilevered, hence double hyper extended knees) onto a hummock in the middle with a skinny tree to grab onto above the cliff. Had I continued down either drop I would have fallen 80 feet to boulders then buried, or 50-60 feet to softer landing, then buried. Thanks for interest. Oh, I'm not sure about the CAIC. Ann reported it. I'm told its been up and down a couple times. I'd like to see it as well.
Loki may adjust our marketing budget to support CAIC. A lot of folks benefit from it while at the same time it seems a lot of folks have been getting in trouble with slides this season. Perhaps its is in the news more? China has been having major accidents from mining and quakes.. don't hear much about their woes.