Yes! Convex pitches where you have to commit before you can see what you're going to have to ski. Far scarier.Personally, I think the drop ins where it transitions from flat to steep are the scariest thing.
Yes! Convex pitches where you have to commit before you can see what you're going to have to ski. Far scarier.Personally, I think the drop ins where it transitions from flat to steep are the scariest thing.
Yes and yes! I want to ski Possible into the Hanging Valley at Snowmass.Yes! Convex pitches where you have to commit before you can see what you're going to have to ski. Far scarier.
I would spot these from below if possible. Unless I really trust the guide.Yes! Convex pitches where you have to commit before you can see what you're going to have to ski. Far scarier.
Sure. It's still scary when you're actually doing it, though.I would spot these from below if possible. Unless I really trust the guide.
Psyched you're getting so into the steeps this season!^^^
The Hanging Valley wall is hard to get pics of from easier areas, but here's one from 2016... I think I've labeled it correctly.
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And a zoomed and fuzzy view of Possible, showing what @mdf 's posted photo is looking down:
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I probably need to add a disclaimer or something*Psyched you're getting so into the steeps this season!
I remember the Gathering at Squaw where the upper lifts were closed till fairly late in the afternoon. Many people had bailed by then. Bazzer and I went up with Jackson Hogan who guided us for two incredible runs, despite my horrendous boot issues.Convex pitches where you have to commit before you can see what you're going to have to ski. Far scarier.
Yes, Possibly 2-3 times. Can’t remember.Yes and yes! I want to ski Possible into the Hanging Valley at Snowmass.
@James and @John Webb have skied it.
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I think something may have happened to the rock in the middle. It was very prominent in old pictures.I remember the rock being much more prominent in one’s field of view.
I am thinking that everyone posting on this thread has bigger balls than I do.
So [dons Grump hat] you are coming to Taos after all. Nice.I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten comfortable on 40 deg pitches because I don’t see them enough.
OK, I'm impressed.The only way to get more comfortable with steeps is to ski them. There’s just no way around it. I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten comfortable on 40 deg pitches because I don’t see them enough.
You do have to talk yourself into going downhill and committing your body into space. If you cling to the slope, it’ll likely go badly.
Some more steep photos. The Brévent area in Chamonix. This chute was legit steep, but not crazy steep. Seeing the town below does not help calm your mind. We had to rappel to get in, and the wind is blowing and I couldn’t hear the guide. “Did he say over rocks??” Yeah. So much for tuning. Then the 192’s didn’t fit well into the entry. This was ok on rope, but we de-roped way too early. The last thing you want is too much tip up on the side, leading to a tails first self arrest attempt.
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Guide coming down.
Looking up can work. Maybe it’s the rocks that help with the perception.
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Disappearing with a late day shadow.
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The crazy thing is this was her first day on snow of the season, on rental gear. Young German surgeon. Earlier on a break, her friend asks her what to do about his leg cramp. The guide says “how would she know?”.
-“Because she’s a doctor”
To which she indignantly replies, “I’m a surgeon!”
That day just happened because of windhold, group cancelled, then the three of us hired the guide and we got lucky with wind hold on the tram lifting for a bit.OK, I'm impressed.
This sounds so much like my place of work.I had to stealthily coach someone here. You have to be careful because guides can get touchy about that.