Snowblower

So I was riding at Whistler/Blackcombe today, and I was having a blast going up to the upper blue runs and just riding all over the place. Good thing I was there early, too, because the weather was clear, and I had plenty of riding time before 2 pm, when it happened.

The fog rolled it. And I don't just mean some namby pamby overcast with reduced visibility. I mean, no visibility. You couldn't tell the snow from the air!! It was horrible. I lost all depth perception, making riding damn near impossible and scary as hell. There were times when I would just freefall a few feet because I went right over a small lip, without having any clue it was about to happen. Finally, I had to just "pendulum" my way down, because I was too scared to just end up going right off the side of the mountain (which nearly happened!). I found plenty of riders stopped along the way, and so I asked them if it was just me or if they were having the same issues, all of whom replied that they found it next to impossible to see, as well. And to add that we were at the near top of Blackcombe, with a LOT of mileage to cover before reaching an area below the fog... well, it was something.

I just want to know if anyone else has been through something like this, and if it's just me as a beginner/unexperienced that caused me to find this so frightening, or if this really is a terrifying situation to find yourself in, regardless of skill level.

megladan

dude the same thing happened to me today on the east coast.. i'd say 20-30 feet visibility at best! SCARY SHIT! there is not depht perception, and too many people wearing freakin winter camo... they were like fucking invisible.
i was trying to use gps for high speed runs.. but the fog kinda hampered it and only got to open it up on the lower mountain where i got a 45.7 mph reading.. i think i have a few more mphs inthe tank

Serrate

This happened to me skiing a couple years ago. I got caught in a total blizzard on top of the chair lift. I thought it was awesome. The wind was in my face so it slowed me down a lot and even pushed me backwards a couple times. Freaking cold though. If I had been on a more difficult trail I probably would have been worried but it was a green or blue trail.

wrathfuldeity

Its happenes fairly frequently, the difference is if you know the area and terrain; also depends on white-out due to fog or snow or face shots. Of course the preference is bluebird deep pow face shots, next is snow/blizzard white outs...landings are usually soft and actually arn't going that fast; and lastly fog but then you just got to feel the FORCE. There is also the flat light condition. IMO white-out dumpage is more disorienting because you can't feel the snow and you are just gliding along verses fog you can usually feel the chop/groom/ice and etc. IMHO bluebird is over-rated, given the choice I much rather have white-out puking dumpage than bluebird (less peeps more pow).

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PaoloSmythe

many times. the worst was when i couldn't even see my hand when out stretched at arm's length

usually tho, it just means that you cannot tell when you are moving or not, until you crash.

not so much scarey as just plain out annoying! just gotta keep an eye out for the piste markers is all.... and keep yer fingers crossed!

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SUPERGILDO

i guess ive never had it THAT bad.ive always been able to board semi comfortably...

Snowolf

This happens all the time on Mt. Hood. Anytime the weather is questionable and white out conditions are possible, I will not ride the upper mountain or our backcountry without my GPS, compass and topo map in my jacket pocket.

One time (at band camp..) I had hiked high above Palmer at Timberline up to Crater Rock near the summit of Mt. Hood and the clouds rolled in with wind and blowing snow. It literally went from 100 miles visibility to white out in under 10 minutes. I only found my way back to the lodge by GPS; without it I would have wound up who knows where or would have had to hunker down in a snow cave till it passed.

Last weekend, while just riding inbounds, Vista Ridge was like this and I literally just fell over a couple of time from the vertigo.

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megladan

i should have some video of it this afternoon, that fog was weird.. especially when i had to watch out for other new yorkers and jersey'ers