Slab Avalanches at Jay

[meat]

just to let everyone know, and that it can happen. their have been two slides caused by two different locals in two different areas in the past two weeks. the first came two weeks ago after the dump on jan 26th. It happend when two skiers that I know skied the top part of the pumphouse chute then started traversing high (skiers left)under the ridge. while traversing that open area between pumphouse and saddle, part of it ripped out and sent one of the skiers for a ride til it all stopped at the stubby little trees below. he said it was slow but couldn't stop if he tried, he was fine.
the second came during this past tuesday dump, when a snowboarder I know tried to rip the saddle chute and after his second turn the slope tore out and sent him on a ride till it all stopped at the trees below. he said he was buried almost to his armpits and had a hard time digging himself out, but was fine and enjoyed the rest of his run. Both of these guys said they were lucky that they didn't get hurt. these multiple freeze-thaws must be to blame, not that this too common of an occurance, but it really makes me think twice to be careful this year especially when skiing a steep, exposed, gnarly line. be careful out there!

 

[skibum1321]

Right now, it's about a foot and a half of snow on top of ice. I can see why it would be sliding, as those are prime conditions for avalanches.

 

[ctenidae]

Did not want to read that the day before skiing there. Good to know, though. Any thoughts on the likelihood/places to avoid Saturday?

 

[Marc]

Did not want to read that the day before skiing there. Good to know, though. Any thoughts on the likelihood/places to avoid Saturday?

The places that are prone to avalanches are the ones I'd avoid.

 

[meat]

Did not want to read that the day before skiing there. Good to know, though. Any thoughts on the likelihood/places to avoid Saturday?

you'll be fine, the places i'm talking about are off the ridge on top of the mountain, they aren't even on the trail map. that is really the only area I would totally avoid. It should be a good weekend, hopefully we get some snow for sunday.

 

[GadgetRick]

The places that are prone to avalanches are the ones I'd avoid.

LMAO!!!!

Ironic, this is one of our not so good years and we now have to worry about avalanches. What's the world coming to???

 

[NYDrew]

Got to add to this one. While not as dangerous and no where near as common as in the rockies, we do have avalances here out east. I've seen them at Montage Pa and Whiteface and have heard of them at Jay.

 

[GrizzlyFD]

Got to add to this one. While not as dangerous and no where near as common as in the rockies, we do have avalances here out east. I've seen them at Montage Pa and Whiteface and have heard of them at Jay.

Perhaps "the slide" at whiteface? But take a look at the year jay has gotten. A very nice early season into dec/jan, then an enormous thaw/freeze the entire month of jan, then they get some snow late jan and early this week they report almost 2 feet. Anything ungroomed over 30-35degrees will slide. The bad jan thaw has hurt the chutes off the ridge so that they might not open. Up until the previous storm they were an icefall worthy of ice climbing.