[NMCCSC] back-country safety & slope angles

[B via NMCCSCeGroup]

Another classic avalanche that could have been avoided. So sad.
Not that this is foolproof, but it has lots of data to back it up statistically: Just stick to slopes no steeper than about 28-30 degrees during the winter avalanche season. Watch for rollovers that exceed that and also watch for terrain traps. One can still seek out powder, but it's just lower angle. Another reason to buy fat skis. Skiing in avalanche terrain does NOT have to be a complicated science to master [even though I am a true snow science geek]. But one has to be disciplined and stick to lower angle slopes until later into the spring season.
Yeah, the slope angle sticker that wraps the pool is a nice simple way to measure slope angle. The guy crowd sourced funding for the idea to make it into an actual product.
Sorry to rant,
-B


________________________________
From: NMCCSCeGroup <nmccscegroup-bounces at mailman.swcp.com> on behalf of Susan Russo via NMCCSCeGroup <nmccscegroup at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 2:03 PM
To: rsberg01--- via NMCCSCeGroup
Subject: [NMCCSC] back-country safety & slope angles

Two skiers were killed Saturday in an avalanche near Crested Butte while skiing across a slope of 37°. They were following a summer hiking route.

I recently found an easy method to immediately assess slope angles while out sking at: http://poleclinometer.com
See image below of the sticker that goes on your ski pole. Must be sized to your pole diameter, but it's inexpensive and easy to use. Note that the angles pictured below are 27°--the upper limit of safe slope angles in avalanche terrain.

[acc_704_24673.jpg]
[how-steep-is-it_web_rend-768x427.png]
[27°.png]
[27° angle.png]
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