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Close call on Adams

Highway Star

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Wildcat *cough*. They have major wind hold problems there and the summit is 1,700 feet lower.

There are good reasons why New Hampshire does not have lift serviced skiing in the Presidentials. The weather is brutal. It dwarfs anything else in New England.


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Right. You would run a tram from the base of the ravine up to the summit and it would only operate during reasonable weather conditions, preferably with guided skiing and avi control in the ravine. Nothing worse than trams out west or in europe. The remainder of lifts would only run to about 4,000 feet or so. A detailed analysis of weather patterns (wind direction) would need to be done before lifts were sited. There's also the possiblity of summer skiing on the summit cone supported by an IDE snowmaking system.
 

VTKilarney

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This is my favorite quote from the Union Leader article:

They [the authorities] did not inform the public about the missing gun to prevent a potentially dangerous situation of many people scrambling over tricky terrain.

I can just see the mad dash for the gun. Kind of like Mr. Snow's golden egg hunt.
 

yeggous

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Right. You would run a tram from the base of the ravine up to the summit and it would only operate during reasonable weather conditions, preferably with guided skiing and avi control in the ravine. Nothing worse than trams out west or in europe. The remainder of lifts would only run to about 4,000 feet or so. A detailed analysis of weather patterns (wind direction) would need to be done before lifts were sited. There's also the possiblity of summer skiing on the summit cone supported by an IDE snowmaking system.

Actually it would be much worse than the trams out West and Europe for two reasons:

1) The wind speeds are higher in New Hampshire. This is largely due to its proximity to rapidly strengthening Nor'Easters that form right off the coast when the cold air from the continent spills out over the warm water of the Atlantic. Storms out West and in Europe lack to deep cold air pools to force development.
global_thickness_jan_a.jpg

2) The Presidentials are lower elevation -> denser air -> wind has more force for a given wind speed.
 

Domeskier

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I don't know if it's because I'm canadian, but for the life of me, I fail to see why anyone would bring a gun backcountry skiing.

You mean you've never encountered those moose-mangling gray wolves he was worried about?
 

Abubob

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I don't know if it's because I'm canadian, but for the life of me, I fail to see why anyone would bring a gun backcountry skiing.
I've had it explained to me this way - it's to ward off rabid animals and all the crazy dogs people bring on the trails. :dontknow:
 

Highway Star

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Many people who go into (deep) woods alone (or otherwise) bring a sidearm, it is common practice and pretty much has been since sidearms were invented. Before that, it was a spear, sword or large knife. If humans hadn't defended themselves in the woods for many thousands of years, you wouldn't be here to make ignorant comments on the internet today. It's probably the most justified and practical place to carry a weapon.

Read the comments....

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/ask_kristin/352?view_all=1
 
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Highway Star

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Do you bring a side arm to a ski off?

I spend a decent amount of time in suburban woods and have no interest in owning a gun. I avoid areas and situations where it would be reasonable to have one, such as remote woods or dangerous urban areas.

However, a good friend of mine recently had a 350 lb black bear raid a cooler left outside his house after a large BBQ. No more than 50 yards off a heavily trafficked main road in VT. Bear was not belligerent, but would not leave when approached and was focused on the food. Friend currently takes his sidearm when leaving the house....
 
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fbrissette

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Many people who go into (deep) woods alone (or otherwise) bring a sidearm, it is common practice and pretty much has been since sidearms were invented. Before that, it was a spear, sword or large knife. If humans hadn't defended themselves in the woods for many thousands of years, you wouldn't be here to make ignorant comments on the internet today. It's probably the most justified and practical place to carry a weapon.

Read the comments....

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/ask_kristin/352?view_all=1

To defend yourself against what ???? I think the ignorant here is the one who thinks you need a gun to survive a trip backcountry skiing.
 

deadheadskier

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I spend a decent amount of time in suburban woods and have no interest in owning a gun. I avoid areas and situations where it would be reasonable to have one, such as remote woods or dangerous urban areas.

However, a good friend of mine recently had a 350 lb black bear raid a cooler left outside his house after a large BBQ. No more than 50 yards off a heavily trafficked main road in VT. Bear was not belligerent, but would not leave when approached and was focused on the food. Friend currently takes his sidearm when leaving the house....

I lived in West Virginia at snowshoe mnt at one point and would come within 100 feet of black bear every couple of weeks. Unless its a mom with her cubs or a bear in the middle of eating they are relatively harmless. You have a greater chance getting struck by lightning than getting killed by a black bear skiing in the presidential range. Maybe folks should ski with lightning rods on their packs. ;)
 

Highway Star

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I lived in West Virginia at snowshoe mnt at one point and would come within 100 feet of black bear every couple of weeks. Unless its a mom with her cubs or a bear in the middle of eating they are relatively harmless. You have a greater chance getting struck by lightning than getting killed by a black bear skiing in the presidential range. Maybe folks should ski with lightning rods on their packs. ;)

I've been within 20 feet of a black bear, they are usually harmless. I'd be more worried about wolves, snakes, coyotes, moose, cougars, deer, anything else rabid and angry, and criminals. No, a handgun is not going to stop a charging 800lb brown bear, which is why hunters in Alaska and anywhere with large dangerous animals carry .375 rifles, and still need to know what they are doing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.375_Holland_&_Holland_Magnum
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=429217

But, anything short of that charging brown bear, a proper sized and loaded sidearm is considered to be extremely effective.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-216186.html
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/hunting-moose-with-a-handgun.48495/
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/08/31/man-kills-charging-bear-with-454-casull/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Alaskan
[url]http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e2c_1271191754

[/URL]
 
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snoseek

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In the sierra we shoot the bears with air pistols when they go through the trash, or just throw a big ass pine cone at them. They are harmless and more of a pain in the ass than anything. They want your food, that is all. No need for a gun unless their Grizzlies or something
 
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