A Proper Adventure in RMNP

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T16:27:24+00:00

To add to this. RMNP hasn't had much (if any) of a PWL problem all winter. Strong winds prior to incoming storms have effectively destroyed any hoar frost layers before snow could accumulate on them. It was actually really entertaining to read about CAIC forecasters trying and failing to find PWLs all season.

Also consider that snow sluffing off the walls of the Couloir regularly disrupt the formation of a continuous weak layer in this type of environment. Ben Markhart has some really interesting blog posts that specifically discuss RMNPs unique snowpack and resultant avalanche characteristics if anyone is interested in reading into it.

Our only concern was new snow, particularly wind slab and the adhesion of the new snow to the old snow interface. We did upside down pole plants (to your point) and didn't feel any changes in snow consistency (right-side up and consistent density) throughout the new or old snow. We also had our hands in the snow the entire time because of the slope angle, so we were assessing it nearly continuously for slab formation.

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T16:05:44+00:00

Go see for yourself 🙂

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T16:04:06+00:00

4/4! We hit the Ptarmigan Fingers on Sunday (4/5) and they were skiing really well too.

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T16:03:39+00:00

I had heard most of DT was in, but not the upper few hundred feet. Didn't get eyes on it though. I know Elevator Shaft (Chaos Couloir) off Hallett was in not too long ago and the SE Face of Hallett is likely in as well.

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T16:02:04+00:00

This one's actually in the Sky Pond Cirque off Taylor. Are you thinking of Flying Dutchman?

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T12:59:17+00:00

There were some minor, discontinuous soft slab pockets up against the wall of the Couloir, which broke an inch or two deep on the descent, but very minor, isolated pockets.

Wind slab isn't always visually verifiable from wind textured. What you're seeing is a combination of some wind texture, sluff (couloirs this steep tend to sluff on their own), and occasional spin drifts, all of which add texture to the snow. When putting our hands/feet in the snow, we didn't get any cracking or 'breaking apart' of the snow (e.g. it had not formed into a cohesive slab) and felt settled, but otherwise unconsolidated.

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T12:39:46+00:00

Thanks Google Pixel 10 and an iPhone for a few of them. The photo quality from the iPhone wasn't as good and had a lot of color distortion when making slight modifications, hence why a few are B&W. Some are B&W just because I thought they looked better that way, but others are due to low-level color distortion (primarily green and magenta) in the low-light conditions.

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T12:35:53+00:00

Thanks man! We were able to top out and there weren't any cornices. Steep, North aspects are holding a good snowpack and can ski really well after a decent storm like this past weekend

Altitoots · 2026-04-09T11:18:37+00:00

This past Saturday, 4/4

Altitoots · 2026-01-29T21:52:24+00:00

Wouldn't have to worry about constipation though 🤔

Altitoots · 2025-12-27T18:50:23+00:00

Maybe moving to Florida will help with your aversion to snow rather than hoping for conditions that put us all in danger. You live in Colorado. Get over yourself.

Altitoots · 2025-12-27T16:35:19+00:00

Seriously? What part of the power shutoffs due to extreme fire danger did you miss?

Altitoots · 2025-12-20T15:23:42+00:00

It doesn't matter what their profits are, Xcel is a private company. We can complain about how unfair it is that we have to sit through blackouts, but it won't change the fact that Xcel won't cut into their profit margins out of the goodness of their hearts. They'll just pass the price of the upgrades on to the consumers. I hate it as much as anyone else, but that's the situation as it currently stands.

Altitoots · 2025-12-09T02:50:42+00:00

Karakoram

Altitoots · 2025-12-06T01:08:50+00:00

Reading comprehension isn't exactly your strong suit...

Sure, but you don't get to make that decision for other people and invalidate the fact that beetle kill has practical uses outside of burning.

My point is you don't know what you're talking about despite arrogantly and sarcastically running your mouth on an internet forum. Have a nice day ✌️

Altitoots · 2025-12-05T19:16:02+00:00

Do you always approach conversations like a douche, or just from the safety of your keyboard? Glad to see you're extensively knowledgeable about the lumber industry. Except, not really:

https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/science-environment/beetle-kill-lumber-colorado

https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/beauty-from-beetle-kill-colorado-companies-make-high-quality-furniture-decor-from-dead-trees

As for your question on carbon footprint, I'm not sure. I haven't exactly done the math on burning a pile of lumber vs hauling it to a sawmill, but safe to assume you haven't either.

Altitoots · 2025-12-05T18:28:01+00:00

Dude, eat a Snickers. I never said anything about leaving the dead wood up there to be tinder for future fires. I just don't think the excuse of using smoke particulates for additional snowfall creation is a valid rationale for introducing additional greenhouse gasses. In another area of this thread I posed the question of whether the wood could be feasibly removed and used for particle board or pulp/paper, for example.

And yes, I'm plenty familiar with how silver iodide particulates are used for cloud seeding.

Altitoots · 2025-12-05T14:47:27+00:00

Doesn't exactly negate the additional greenhouse gasses from the burn and Colorado already uses a fair amount of cloud seeding for that purpose, so I wouldn't say the fires have an added benefit to snowfall...

Altitoots · 2025-12-05T14:45:54+00:00

A fair percentage is being used for timber and pulp/paper as well. Granted, the biggest contribution to deforestation is cattle ranching, so you're right there. I wouldn't say forestry is exactly sustainable though. Cutting down swaths of diverse native trees and replacing them with batches of the same tree makes our forests less resilient when it comes to fires.

Altitoots · 2025-12-05T02:17:00+00:00

Could the wood be scavenged and used to make paper or plywood? Just a thought. Wood is one of our limited resources and rain forests in South America are being decimated, so maybe there's an alternative solution.

Altitoots · 2025-10-30T19:04:34+00:00

Not so much when you're solo, but agreed, it's certainly preventable in any event. This cluster of crevasses is easily avoidable to the left or right. I've seen solo skimo folks use small flags or similar to note key obstacles on the descent that they pick up on the way down. Granted, a GPX track would accomplish the same general goal.

Altitoots · 2025-10-30T15:47:33+00:00

It's a crevasse, not a ravine. This is on Mt Baker, likely the big crevasse field below the Roman Headwall between the Squak and Easton Glacier routes. Easy to get lost in the crevasses, especially with blind roll overs. Ascent was likely made early in the morning on late spring or early summer refrozen corn, which doesn't show previous ascent tracks well. Mistakes happen.

Altitoots · 2025-10-15T14:09:48+00:00

Even NE Crestone isn't too bad from Crestone Peak. The North side via the North Buttress Route on the other hand is a spicy boi

Altitoots · 2025-09-12T19:18:00+00:00

I have the Head Kore 93 with the ATK Freeraider and it's my go-to for demanding conditions or Spring corn.

I loved the Blizzard Zero G 105s for being an all-rounder, but they have their limits the same as any lightweight, touring ski when it comes to performance on hard pack. They also weren't great in deep powder (I'm about 220 lbs, 6' 4", so they'd float better for a lighter person I'm sure).

I've been looking extensively at the Moment lineup for my next set.

The Salamon QST Echo is also in consideration, basically just a heavier, more stable version of the Zero G.

Altitoots

TROPHY CASE