 Poster: A snowHead
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@Shakira, thanks, makes more sense now with that context.
@rambotion, the article I posted way back included this:
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The Prefecture of Haute-Savoie emphasized the high avalanche risk on Tuesday, rated at 4 out of 5 on the avalanche scale. For Wednesday, the risk has decreased slightly but remains "Considerable" at level 3 out of 5 for the Mont-Blanc, Aravis, Chablais, and Bauges massifs.
In a statement, the Haute-Savoie authorities urged all mountain-goers to exercise extreme caution and strictly follow safety guidelines provided by ski resorts and public services. They noted the instability of the snowpack and highlighted the ongoing threat of additional avalanches. |
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ousekjarr, they're talking about the snow pack in the backcountry, it's not really applicable to the Grands Montets bowel
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| ousekjarr wrote: |
@Shakira,
Maybe I've misunderstood here, but a persistent weak layer is/was known to exist across the whole area. OK, fresh snow and/or several freeze/thaw cycles may change things, but is it really the case that it has gone now, 2 days later?
On that basis, was it a great idea to ski in the area at all, even if the debris field could be assumed to be safer than the remaining area which may have exactly the same problem waiting to be triggered, except now with more snow on top which may make it even more likely to go? Has the avalanche warning level reduced generally, or does the report say that the snow is now stable? |
Discussion about the risk rating here.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=172082
It looks it’s an issue across quite a wide area of the alps. Some slopes might appear to have a stable surface slab but actually there is a weak layer deep in the pack (depth hoar). When it goes it’s taking pretty much the whole snowpack with it
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| strangewine wrote: |
Location seems to be the big question.
Four of us were there doing laps throughout the day, including the time of the accident as well as throughout the entire next day, all skiing off of the Herse Lift and throughout the Herse Sector. Even with bluebird conditions on day two, we didn't see any slides in the Herse Sector anywhere near the size described.
The Bochard Lift was open the morning after the accident and even from there the only large slides we saw were on the Face of the Grand Montets - well above the Herse Lift and well above his described departure point.
Hoping to see a more detailed report when better information comes available. |
My recollection is most people go skiers right off Hearse, into what used to be called the Italian bowl. I don't remember there being a huge logic in going skiers left though there is from recollection quite a bit of acreage between it and the next piste. In any event, I would have thought that whole area would be well moguled from previous skiers earlier in the season and thus lower risk. I'd feel relatively safe off hearse compared to an unskied slope for example. I also though it must have come from above. Is the higher lift still closed though? In which case it would have to either have been a tourer or a natural avalanche?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Has anyone heard a name (even just a first name) of the skier in the GM accident?
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