Meet the Spindrift Team4/21/2022 Special Edition- End of season FUN raiser It is getting close to the end of the ski season and we thought we would introduce you to the team here at thespindrift.weebly.com. (please send $) This is Mark, pro avalanche observer for Sprindrift.Weebly.com. Mark began skiing as a wee lad at the little ski hill in Eden. During his HS years he moved up to Alta until he learned to tele and then got the hell out of there for the backcountry. He has been skiing ever since with a ragtag group of weirdos, hippies, vagabonds,etc. Mark only likes to work as a carpenter in the summer when it is over 100 F. (So send money) Mark has honed his skills as an observer over many years wandering the Wasatch often without a clue. He has international experience hunting avalanches in Canada (but we don't talk about that). He claims to have taken an avalanche class many years ago but there is no evidence of that. Mark is certified as an expert in something. He takes a lot of photos with his phone. It's the end of the season and he really does not want to work much this summer (please send money). If you enjoy all the great pics taken on an iphone then send an appropriate donation. It costs a lot to buy five guys and Natty Ice and that horrible Vodka in a plastic jug. BTW-- Mark would like to thank Marla for putting up with him all these years. This is Peter, driver, web designer, trail breaker and special educator (see the connections to Mark here). He has a car that works. He is still pretty fit for an old guy so he can keep up. He obviously does not know shit about avalanches as he keeps getting caught in them. He has a full time job so no need to send money. Peter grew up skiing ice on a little tiny hill in PA so his skills came in handy this past January/February when it stopped snowing. He forgot how to ski when he moved to Utah to ski powder. He has over 30 years wandering around, getting lost, starting avalanches, getting caught in them, falling down and so forth. He has no avalanche training whatsoever (obviously). At the end of the season he gets the summer off because he is a school teacher and they hardly work to begin with. He does not need money although with gas prices going up and having to drive Mark around, Chevron gift cards are appreciated. There is a host of other people who ski with us but most of them asked not to be added here and made me sign some sort of waiver. BUT they know who they are. I asked them for money and well, you know. So send some five guys gift cards or amazon. Most importantly, remember not to make shitty skin tracks, stay away from my line, and do not take yourself too seriously. Save that seriousness for the avalanches. See you out there. Don't forget to follow us on social media - FB and Instagram
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Red Baldy4/20/2022 Been a while since I’ve thrown something up but today seemed like a good day to update. Headed up to Red Baldy in White Pine canyon today, there was 2 to 3 inches of new medium density snow, on a hard surface down low and a softer surface up above 9500ft. The wind was cranking fairly hard from the W SW in the morning but died down a bit after 12 noon. Skinning was a bit slippery when it got steep but booting worked fine after that. The wind didn’t really affect the snow much, blew it in and made it easier in some spots, got scoured and made it tougher in others. The snow stayed dry up until our exit at 1:30 and I think the High N should still be good in the AM. Below 9000ft everything went off and there was a lot of slow herk and jerk below that elevation, like super slow. The high alpine is still holding plenty of snow but the S facing and lower elevations are melting out fast. Might get another few good days this weekend, storms looking solid and most slopes are smooth and won’t need much to be good. I’m also throwing up a meet the spindrift crew which consists of Pete Ingle and myself. He’s the one that does all the work and I just ski but I really appreciate all his hard work and mostly his friendship. We’ve been skiing together longer than most of you have been alive. Check out the post cause it’s funny as shit. Hope everyone has a good off season and gonna try to keep the rogue reports coming next season unless i’m dead by then.
Summit Park- April 1 edition4/1/2022 Today's travel was to Summit park because gas prices are so high and Peter did not want to drive and Mark is in the desert. Did not make it very far as conditions kind of suck. Spent the whole day digging pits because why would you want to ski when you can dig pits. Here is what we found. First pit (picture 1) was on a 2 degree south facing slope. Lots of old debris in there as well as a weak layer from back in december. Did a SBCT (snowblower column test) and that released on some sugar about 2 inches down. Could easily release an avalanche size WTF2-DGH-22-DA. Not feeling good about that slope. Went over to the north side (Pic 2) and found HS to be about 2 feet (We live in Murica so we ain't using no centimeters). Definitely a weak layer down near the ground. Did not mow the lawn at the end of the season and it's slippery. Gopher holes could be an issue. The third one (pic 3)was on a easterly facing slope at 7000 feet that no one ever skis. Found good conditions with 2 feet of soft slush on top. Boot penetrations were 18 inches to the ground so you know that is safe when you can get to terra firma. Lost my shoe digging that one so called for a rescue. Ski here as it is safe. There seems to be some debris (pic 4) in the snowpack. I am assuming that is from the last avalanche cycle OR the dirty air quality blowing over from Salt Lake. Either way it is going to present as a persistent weak layer in the future. Overall we have no idea what the likelihood of an avalanche is for these conditions. You should probably stay home or go ride your bike. But it is not easy putting all this information together and Mark is dreading having to go to work so please send money. Venmo, wire transfers, Swiss bank accounts, and amazon gift cards accepted.
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January 2024
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