Mt Waterman Summer 2009

I believe it was the sheriffs writing those tickets to Ob skiers. It came about because we had some kids get lost, one who the the son of the Sierra Madre (I believe) Fire Dept. Battalion Chief. Montrose Search and Rescue was called out and they were looking in the complete wrong area. They were searching in Buckhorn while we were telling them they were in Devils Canyon. Montrose was always arrogant egos and they insisted they found Tracks. A major storm was coming in and I asked the Montrose leader to call out Altadena because several of our patrollers were on that team and they could look in the right area. Montrose refused to call in more help so I called Lee Baca who was working his way up the sheriffs dept. back in those days and I knew personally back then. Altadena was called out which pissed off Montrose and one of our National Ski Patrollers found the kids in Devil's early the next morning. The sheriff captain from CV who was in charge of Montrose was so pissed off I went over his head that he sent patrol units to Avalanche to site skiers going OB. Fortunatly everyone got together and went to court and the judge threw all the citations out I believe.
 
Thanks for the background info on the sheriff citations. I would caution all that Mt. Waterman is thoroughly (maybe a bit less now, alas!) forested to the top. It does not have the expansive vistas of Baldy's chairs 3 and 4 or Throop Peak which I climbed with my dog July 4. So it is very easy to be lured into a sweet fall line that drains into Devil's Canyon rather than back to Angeles Crest Hwy. This happened to me in 1992 despite having skied several runs to the road in 1983 and 1985. So I repeat my advice to go out there the first time with someone who has been there before. The denser forest should have an upside of less wind effect upon the snow than at Baldy.
 
Funny I have skied Avy about 500 times and I would see people telling me I was going the wrong way... how wrong they were. If you go up in the summer you will find out the terrain sucks you the wrong way. What you would think is the right way, is really the way to overnight hell!

Glad to say I was never suckered into that doom.

lolo when Lynn heard the flames hit avy he reply was, sweet better powder skiing! Classic
 
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