surferbenjiz's Blog

I drove back up from Vegas to PC for my last three days of the season (Days #48,#49, & #50 - half the goal, but a lot considering the the crap snow and seperated shoulder and move to vegas). I know the snow would be slushy, but I was still needing some closure to a peculiar season. . .


Yesterday as I hiked the ridgeline next to Duchess bowl I found myself grabbing for some snow. I was dehydrated from what turned out to be my third back country hike of the day. Snowboarding or skiing in the backcountry is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to everyone, but it comes with a warning: KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE YOU GO!!!

As I quenched my thirst with a handful of slushy snow I couldnt help but ponder on the day before. . .

On monday, there was no one who wanted to ride, so I started out cruising around in the spring conditions rather bored. So I made the decisions to do a little backcountry hike. One problem, actually multiple problems:

1. I was alone.
2. I dont have a avalanche beacon or shovel or anything
3. The conditions up on 9990 and the surrounding mountains are less than optimal. Avalanches are LIKELY due to the conditions.

So with all these factors compounding the idea of backcountry riding, I started out on my hike regardless. Oops. Big oops.

As I dropped off the windlip and headed for some untracted snow, I kept thinking to myself, "this is going to break, this is going to cause an avalanche." About 3 seconds later a 25 foot wide slab about 1 1/2 feet deep gave way - RIGHT UNDERNEATH ME!

What do you do then? Multiple choices:
1. Ride the avy all the way to the bottom (tremendous risk)
2. Head to the left (giant wall of rocks & more avy)
3. Stop (but all the snow from avy would pile on top of me)
4. Head to the right (running the tremendous risk of cutting across the avy)

My decision: head right. I cut across the avy and managed to skirt my way across to stable ground. I said a prayer and looked down the mountain and watched nearly 250 feet gave way.

So as I ate the snow today on the top of Duchess I couldnt help but smile and ponder what could have been. . .

So the last two days I hiked with friends and road the park. My season has officially ended as of today. I am on to different things now, thanks for all the comments, emails and jokes along the way.

Keep steezin . . .

Benji

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