Big Sky Question

[Puck it]

What equipment is need to ski the Couloirs and the interconnect to Moonlight Basin from the Lone Peak summit?

I know of the check in at the patrol shack and the beacon requirement but is a shovel and probe required also? And is there anything else?

 

[DJC]

What equipment is need to ski the Couloirs and the interconnect to Moonlight Basin from the Lone Peak summit?

I know of the check in at the patrol shack and the beacon requirement but is a shovel and probe required also? And is there anything else?

A beacon is completely useless without a shovel and probe so I'm sure if there is a beacon check that you also must have shove and probe.

 

[Geoff]

A beacon is completely useless without a shovel and probe so I'm sure if there is a beacon check that you also must have shove and probe.

A beacon is very useful as long as the rest of the people on your party have shovels and probes.

 

[prisnah]

If you don't know this you have absolutely no business being up there.

I would suggest you get familiar with avy equipment, do some avy training and some beacon/rescue practice first.

But as mentioned above you need a beacon, a shovel, a probe and a partner to ski it.

Just carrying a beacon and not a shovel and probe is absolutely selfish anyway.

 

[dmc]

If you don't know this you have absolutely no business being up there.

I would suggest you get familiar with avy equipment, do some avi training and some beacon/rescue practice first. As mentioned above you also need a partner to ski it.

i hear ya on this... It's a great place to "cut your teeth"
it's signout but its really inbounds - the A - Z chutes are visible from everywhere and if your doing the Big Couloir - well... Cool! I want to hear about it...

that being said - it's always better to practice... But i think here - it's mainly for Patrol to respond.. If i recall there a Patrol shack right there..

 

[dmc]

A beacon is very useful as long as the rest of the people on your party have shovels and probes.

I have 2 beacons....
I always give the one easier to operate to my partner...

 

[Puck it]

If you don't know this you have absolutely no business being up there.

I would suggest you get familiar with avy equipment, do some avy training and some beacon/rescue practice first.

But as mentioned above you need a beacon, a shovel, a probe and a partner to ski it.

Just carrying a beacon and not a shovel and probe is absolutely selfish anyway.

Why so rude. I wanted to find out if both were needed or only one. It was simple question.

 

[Puck it]

I have 2 beacons....
I always give the one easier to operate to my partner...

I will borrowing two beacons from the locacl ski shop and I wanted to understand what I would need to rent out there instead of packing in bag that will cost extra money now.

 

[Puck it]

i hear ya on this... It's a great place to "cut your teeth"
it's signout but its really inbounds - the A - Z chutes are visible from everywhere and if your doing the Big Couloir - well... Cool! I want to hear about it...

that being said - it's always better to practice... But i think here - it's mainly for Patrol to respond.. If i recall there a Patrol shack right there..

The shack is behind and down the unload station of the Tram. The Big Couloir is supposedly 40 degrees which is no worse then Tower 3 chute or the Mushroom Chutes just longer.

 

[Geoff]

If you don't know this you have absolutely no business being up there.

I would suggest you get familiar with avy equipment, do some avy training and some beacon/rescue practice first.

But as mentioned above you need a beacon, a shovel, a probe and a partner to ski it.

Just carrying a beacon and not a shovel and probe is absolutely selfish anyway.

I've done guided heli and snowcat skiing where most of the people didn't have shovels and probes. With two people, obviously both need a shovel and a probe. With 10 people, it's not so essential. What is essential is that you know how to use the beacon. You can always dig with a ski.

I've done a ton of reading about snow safety and I've been through the cursory training to find the buried beacon in the plastic bag you get when you go out guided. I've skied the sidecountry in South America a number of times but I know just enough to know to be a total wimp about the terrain selection to minimize the risk. Unless I'm with people with way more experience than I have, I keep it under 30 degrees. I'm even wimpy about 30 degrees when I see a lot of wind loading. I had sharp words last month with a guy who ignored the basic "one at a time", "don't ski directly above", and "stop below" rules. Believe it or not, the guy actually hit me after we'd gone over snow safety 3 times and it's on video. There wasn't anybody else skiing within a mile of us and this tool hits me. I refused to ski with him again.

 

[Puck it]

I've done guided heli and snowcat skiing where most of the people didn't have shovels and probes. With two people, obviously both need a shovel and a probe. With 10 people, it's not so essential. What is essential is that you know how to use the beacon. You can always dig with a ski.

I've done a ton of reading about snow safety and I've been through the cursory training to find the buried beacon in the plastic bag you get when you go out guided. I've skied the sidecountry in South America a number of times but I know just enough to know to be a total wimp about the terrain selection to minimize the risk. Unless I'm with people with way more experience than I have, I keep it under 30 degrees. I'm even wimpy about 30 degrees when I see a lot of wind loading. I had sharp words last month with a guy who ignored the basic "one at a time", "don't ski directly above", and "stop below" rules. Believe it or not, the guy actually hit me after we'd gone over snow safety 3 times and it's on video. There wasn't anybody else skiing within a mile of us and this tool hits me. I refused to ski with him again.

The patrol only lets 2 people every 15 minutes in the Couloirs at Big Sky. And based on what I am reading on other sites only a beacon and shovel are required.

 

[dmc]

The shack is behind and down the unload station of the Tram. The Big Couloir is supposedly 40 degrees which is no worse then Tower 3 chute or the Mushroom Chutes just longer.

not exactly like shroom or 3... Steep... yes... More like Dodges at Tucks..

when i was there - it was a mandatory drop into it... onto a 40 that doglegs left...

 

[dmc]

Why so rude. I wanted to find out if both were needed or only one. It was simple question.

People tend to get a little "hard" on this issue to prove a point and possibly save a life... Maybe even their own if you happen to be skiing in the same place...

I ride out west inbounds with a transceiver and no shovel - and only because inbounds slides do occur.....

But if i head OB I'll go get the shovel and probe and make sure i have a crew with the same.. Some areas out west have transceiver parks... Worth dropping in and testing...

Bridger Bowl used to have a gate that checked your signal for going up the ridge..

 

[Puck it]

Check this thread out of the 10 year old doing the Big Couloir on tele's!!!!!!

http://agardy.com/BigSkyTR1.html

 

[Puck it]

People tend to get a little "hard" on this issue to prove a point and possibly save a life... Maybe even their own if you happen to be skiing in the same place...

I ride out west inbounds with a transceiver and no shovel - and only because inbounds slides do occur.....

But if i head OB I'll go get the shovel and probe and make sure i have a crew with the same.. Some areas out west have transceiver parks... Worth dropping in and testing...

Bridger Bowl used to have a gate that checked your signal for going up the ridge..

I understand your point but I would not want to be with some one that could not find me either. I am asking the question to plan a trip that I am flying to not driving to. It is a little different for planning of the trip. I will need to find a shop that rents this equipment then.


I think there was more deaths in bounds from avalanches then OB last year. Maybe wrong. I differently stay in bounds with no beacon.

 

[prisnah]

I wasn't trying to be rude, like dmc said, really just trying to convey the seriousness of avalanche safety/training, especially after so many problems out west last year. Just looking out for your safety and the safety of others.

I still believe you should get some basic avy training if you plan on skiing that type of terrain. Especially if it will be on any kind of regular basis.

Granted it's inbounds avy terrain and patrol is pretty close by, I'm just saying proper planning prevents poor performance, in this case resulting in injury or worse.

Know before you go.

 

[Puck it]

I wasn't trying to be rude, like dmc said, really just trying to convey the seriousness of avalanche safety/training, especially after so many problems out west last year. Just looking out for your safety and the safety of others.

I still believe you should get some basic avy training if you plan on skiing that type of terrain.

Granted it's inbounds avy terrain and patrol is pretty close by, I'm just saying proper planning prevents poor performance, in this case resulting in injury or worse.

Know before you go.

You assume that I do not have knowledge. I was asking the question for planning purposes. Do I need to pack, ship or rent? Which gear is needed and where do get it out there?

You state that "know before you go". That is why I asked for the info. Less knowledgable people would just go up.

 

[dmc]

You assume that I do not have knowledge. I was asking the question for planning purposes. Do I need to pack, ship or rent? Which gear is needed and where do get it out there?

You state that "know before you go". That is why I asked for the info. Less knowledgable people would just go up.

He did his thing - got the point across... You did yours - got some beta... It's all good...

Just a warning to others that venture into the BC... the stuff said here is WAY MORE TAME then the telemarking granola crunchers will give you if they see you tagging along with no gear...

 

[dmc]

I understand your point but I would not want to be with some one that could not find me either. I am asking the question to plan a trip that I am flying to not driving to. It is a little different for planning of the trip. I will need to find a shop that rents this equipment then.


I think there was more deaths in bounds from avalanches then OB last year. Maybe wrong. I differently stay in bounds with no beacon.

i say bring the transciever... Cause your used to it... and rent shovel and probe... Hopefully the cost will be less then an extra bag on the plane...

 

[ed-drum]

Hey DMC, judging by that picture I'd have to bring a diaper along with all the other junk!:razz: