161lip

To anyone who has ever rode Berthoud Pass:

The past two seasons my friends and I have began riding BP. We're aware of the risks and dangers involved with back country skiing at BP; however, none of us have taken an avalanche course, nor do we own any equipment. I ask that you do not berate me too much for this; I plan to purchase all necessary equipment before my first ride, and take an Avy1 course by years end.

My question is: We always ride Floral Park, when we're at Berthoud, because everything else seems ostensibly dangerous. Furthermore, we rarely ever hike further than Jim's Glades. I'm aware that if there's snow, then there's the potential for sliding, but what are the risks involved in this area specifically? It seems less severe than, say, chutes on Hell's Half Acre. Of course, I have no formal avalanche training.

linvillegorge

1st step - get gear. Beacon, probe, and shovel at minimum.
2cd step - Classes | Friends of Berthoud Pass

Floral Park definitely slides.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc...d=90&accfm=inv
http://avalanche.state.co.us/acc/acc...d=95&accfm=inv


Here's a map of the major avalanche paths at Berthoud:

http://avalanchemapping.org/IMAGES/Bpastopoweb.pdf

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killclimbz

Remember that first statement I made? "If it's steep enough to ride it is steep enough to slide." All of the terrain you have written about has had slide activity. Floral proper is notorious for avalanches and is one of the more dangerous runs on the pass. Jim's glades slides less, but it has slid before in the past and it will slide again. Rarely enough to bury in that area, but there are lots of trees there. Getting carried into them can happen. Broken bones and trauma is likely.

Check out the FOBP classes that Linville linked you too. They are pinned at the top of this forum. They are free. Berthoud Pass is a lot of fun, but there is a lot of danger there too. Being literally a foot past a certain spot can put you in life threatening situations. Bert is a world class spot, but it doesn't suffer mistakes lightly.

161lip

Thanks, guys. I will heed your advice.

By Floral Park, I mean the overall area that contains Jim's Glades, Hoop Creek, ect; so when I say we only ride Floral Park, I really mean we only ride Hoop Creek and Jim's Glades. Is this the correct way to talk about that area- is there a specific run called Floral Park?

Has Hoop Creek ever slid?

linvillegorge

If it's 30 degrees or steeper or underneath terrain that is 30 degrees or steeper, it has the potential to slide. The "it's never slid before" thought process is a dangerous one. If it has snow on it and it's over 30 degrees, it can slide and Murphy's Law says that the first time you see it slide it'll be when your ass is on it.

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killclimbz

Hoop creek is a classic terrain trap in spots. So yes there is some danger there. Fairly safe most of the time. Yes there have been slides back there, enough to bury.

DrnknZag

Slide in the Bridger Range last weekend......

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/29...ana-1-injured/

Walove I know you're local out there, have you heard anything about this one?

walove

i dont know the people but i know the line. I skied the same line last october. And turned back off a line last november. The bowl is very tight keeping sunlight out and holding snow for a long time.

the bridgers picked up over two feet at that elevation from wed-sat night. then temps spiked sunday morning. certain aspects had a lingering crust and hoar from the early october snow. (seen in the gnfac video from sphinx mt) When i was out on thursday at the ski area all we could find was unconsolidated snow sitting on dirt grass and rocks.

I guessing similar conditions as when we turned back off a line in the same bowl last november. We hiked on unconsolidated snow from the trailhead to the bottom of the bowl, around 2 miles. Still new snow on the ground and no base. As we started to climb the line to ski the new snow became more wind effected, and deeper. Hand tests had showed that the new snow was ready slide as it was now formed a slab from the wind and was sitting on the old crust. We stopped going up and climbed over a scree ridge and decended on a small protected slope.

conditions change quick, elevation, and aspect change the picture fast. We were aware of where the old snow was because we had been into the area a few weeks before. Once its all covered things get tricky.

heres a video from last year

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killclimbz

I really need to do some Montana splitting...

walove

you make the trip ill show you around.

No easy access from mt passes like you have in CO. Get ready for a slog. The fairy lake area (from the video) is a four mile skin in on the road before you get to anything moderately steep once they close the gate. (gates still open this time of year making it a bit of a gangbang) Another two miles to get to some lines. Seems like most zones require atleast a three mile flat slog. The trail heads are close to town, with in 15 miles, so you spend your time hiking instead of driving.

unless your talking cooke city..aka..heaven

skipped the season pass this year and bought a cheap sled to get out to the steeps quicker. Working on a dynafit soft boot and kicker skin set up to make flats go a little quicker.

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