Slide Brook Entry

[wintersyndrome]

Just looking for some advise regarding good entry points / descents in the Slide Brook Basin at SB. any advise on where to enter and exit the basin would be appreciated, did this awhile back with someone familiar with the area, so kinda just did some following, this time around looking to sort of 'lead the expedition' so to say. we are all advanced expert skiers, snowboarders, party of four. any advise would be appreciated

I understand keeping information of this nature on the quiet side, so GPS coordinates will work just as well, with maybe some description of the descents to help us feel cognizent of our general area.

and thank you

 

[kcyanks1]

Just looking for some advise regarding good entry points / descents in the Slide Brook Basin at SB. any advise on where to enter and exit the basin would be appreciated, did this awhile back with someone familiar with the area, so kinda just did some following, this time around looking to sort of 'lead the expedition' so to say. we are all advanced expert skiers, snowboarders, party of four. any advise would be appreciated

I understand keeping information of this nature on the quiet side, so GPS coordinates will work just as well, with maybe some description of the descents.

and thank you

The only way I've done it is entering from the top of North Lynx. It's fairly clear where to enter, if I recall correctly. There's a rope that you might have to go under. I only know this because that's where the tour goes, so I'm not disclosing anything secret. I don't know of any other entrances aside from what the tour does. I did it once with the tour and once without. When I did it without the tour, though, it was not after a 40-48" snow storm, and we used our memories from the tour along with the tracks of people who had been on the tour to guide our course. Since you are fortunate enough to have a ton of fresh snow, that approach won't be possible. So I *highly* recommend that you take the tour if you or others in your group have not done so.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Yeah I think thats where we entered last time, not that I had a bad experience I was just looking for some other options.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

my buddy and i are headed to MRG/SB Valley 1st weekend in April..we were thinking of taking the $40 guided tour back there..is it worth it?? we cant do it by ourselfs as it just 2 of us and god forbid something happened back there...

 

[AdironRider]

As long as youve got a buddy with you youll be fine. Alone, not so much.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

until one of us smacks headfirst into a tree and the other has to go get help...I head into the trees with a min of 3....

 

[wintersyndrome]

I also like the safety of three in woods of that magnitude, further I like a GPS helps because you can then pin point locations and speed rescue attempts god forbid they are necessarry

 

[kcyanks1]

As long as youve got a buddy with you youll be fine. Alone, not so much.

Unless one of them has done the tour, or they have scouted out the area in some way, or have a map, I disagree. I'm far from the backcountry expert--the majority of people on this board, you possibly included, know more--but I would definitely not advise that two people who have never been in Slidebrook and don't know the area just go in alone.

 

[kcyanks1]

my buddy and i are headed to MRG/SB Valley 1st weekend in April..we were thinking of taking the $40 guided tour back there..is it worth it?? we cant do it by ourselfs as it just 2 of us and god forbid something happened back there...

I would say the tour is worth it for sure. It will also show you one route to go for the future.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

cool, thanks....looking forward to it...do they have an bc tours over at MRG?

 

[djspookman]

Almost first tracks in Slide yesterday was tough going. I had to straightline almost everywhere yesterday because its so deep out there right now!!!

off the top of the north lynx is the way to go!

 

[castlerock]

The super deep snow is more difficult than most expect

It is extraordinarily deep out there. Skiing on the low angle requires excellent ski angle control or you will dive and stop. It is truly skiing bottomless. Long slogs on unpacked flats require AT, tele or split with skins as conventional binldings make it much more difficult.

I read on the MRV forum that two folks were rescued last night in Slidebrook. Inexperience with this kind of snow had to play a role.

Avi is a real issue right now up here. Especially with the insane wind loading today. Some may say not in Slidebrook, maybe not on the "tour route" but why do you think they call it slide?

So if you know where you are going and understand the deep stuff, go for it. Otherwise..

 

[kcyanks1]

cool, thanks....looking forward to it...do they have an bc tours over at MRG?

Nothing official that I know of, but I would figure if you took a lesson an instructor would be able to take you places. Much more expensive than a $40 tour though.

 

[Birdman829]

Could be heading out for a run down Slide Brook on Saturday. We'll see.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

They rescued some kids last night who ventured into Slidebrook yesterday. It took rescuers several hours to get in there. They have to pay for the cost of the rescue....love that! Vermont law that is finally being enforced.

As others have said do not go into that area unless your with someone who knows the terrain completely. Cell phone coverage in there is spotty depending on your service. In additon there are now high avi warnings announced for at least the next two weeks.

Edit....Sorry Castlerock....somehow missed your post.

 

[wintersyndrome]

sounds like its $40 well spent we'll probably just go that route..we'll be up there in about 2 weeks

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

and I'm sure a few greenbacks in the guides pocket before-hand wont hurt either.....

 

[wintersyndrome]

I would imagine that helps them remember where the untracked goodness is:-D