Early last Saturday, the Mt. Baker Ski Patrol used a helicopter to do control work on the Shuksan Arm and on Hemispheres as there was significant potential for large  destructive slides to come inside the ski area.  The following images are the results of that work.  NOTE, NWAC was only issuing a rating of Moderate for Saturday.  These results prove there is a very deep and still active layer in our snow pack that may become very active when the temps start to raise. A profile of the large crown on Hemispheres showed a very hard ICY bed surface with a layer of facets above it that the slab was sitting on.  SCARY!  We measured the Hemispheres crown at 12~13 feet.  A 350 CM ruler was not long enough!

Helicopter avalanche control work resulting in a 13 ~ 15 ft crown measured by Peter "PJ" Moran

Helicopter avalanche control work resulting in a 13 ~ 15 ft crown measured by Peter “PJ” Moran

Helicopter avalanche control work resulting in a 13 ~ 15 ft crown on Hemispheres

Helicopter avalanche control work resulting in a 13 ~ 15 ft crown

Helicopter avalanche control work resulting in a 13 ~ 15 ft crown

Helicopter avalanche control work on The Beast

Helicopter avalanche control work on the Hollywood Spines

Helicopter avalanche control work on the Hollywood Spines

Last Thursday the Shuksan arm ripped huge prior to the ski area opening.  We had 110 inches in a week on top of a sun crust, followed by 2 feet or so of wet heavy snow, so the avalanche conditions where ripe.  This crown of this slide is estimated to be 10~12 feet deep.  Since rumble gully was full prior to this slide, this avalanche ran full path, and widened and extended the slide path into the ski area destroying full size timber. The photo posted on Facebook by various individuals was of the photo that I took LAST YEAR massive slide that ripped off of the Pyramid LAST YEAR.  This slide is large than the one last year and larger than the one in 98-99.

Below are the shots of this years slide:

Crown of 100 year slide on the Shuksan arm ©GrantGunderson.com

Trees destroyed by 100 year slide on the Shuksan arm ©GrantGunderson.com

Trees destroyed by 100 year slide on the Shuksan arm ©GrantGunderson.com

Portion of the debris zone from the 100 year slide on the Shuksan arm ©GrantGunderson.com

I am very fortunate to have been able to travel and explore the far corners of the world on skis, yet I choose to make my home in the PNW.  Check out this video from my time spent at home with Salomon Freeski TV to see exactly why I choose to live here.

Salomon Freeski TV PNW Episode 1

Just scored the National Geographic “extreme” Photo of the week with Carston Oliver at Sugar Bowl / Donner Pass CA.

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/extreme-photo-of-the-week/

Check out Salomon’s new digital magazine if you have an iPad.  I shot a pretty cool article in it on powder skiing.http://www.salomonfreeski.com/us/minisites/ipad-magazine/?cmpid=freeski_MEAhomesmall_minisite-ipad_fw11-12

Just got the cover of Fall 2011 issue of Ski Canada with Lynsey Dyer

Fall 2011 Ski Canada Cover