Snowmass, CO, Jan. 7, 2014

[Tony Crocker]

Liz got the stomach flu overnight and was wiped out Tuesday. This was the day we were relocating, and fortunately Pokolodi Lodge let her stay in the room until 1PM. I came in at lunch and packed the car while Liz planned to rest in the lobby. She started to improve in the afternoon and drove over to Aspen Meadows, where we're spending the next 2 nights.

Meanwhile Tseeb came and we skied Snowmass. Temps did get up to 30F, with a sunny morning but cloudy afternoon. After a warmup run on the Burn we headed up to the Cirque.

This area was chalky. Lower down there was some powder somewhat wind affected, though not as much as in Highlands Bowl and it was easier to power through since it was not so steep.

We noticed riding the poma that there was one more entry Ptarmigan part way up, so we skied that next. Tseeb on top section with Cirque in background

I followed.

Tseeb skiing the section where I found fluffy untracked on 1/2.

We headed up again, planning to head for Hanging Valley, but the poma derailed. It would take too long to get there via 2 other chairs before room checkout, so we skieed the 3,600 vertical Powderhorn run down to Campground, From that lift we could ski direct to Snowmass Mall and the Pokolodi.

After the packing/loading and lunch it was almost 2PM. So we hastily headed up to the Burn and got on the now repaired poma at 2:25, just 5 minutes before closing. We approached the Headwall, which had serious rock issues just below the top. We traversed right, and here's Tseeb getting through the best opening we could find.

There was a clean shot just below me. Then we traversed right into some wide open soft snow in Big Spruce and Wall One. We ran into 3 patrollers on sweep. Hanging Valley is an expansive area, probably takes quite a few people to cover.

We were able to make it up to High Alpine before its 3:30 close for one run from Reidar's through some glades to Green Cabin. At 22,400 vertical, this was my first day over 20K for the season.

 

[Admin]

Liz got the stomach flu overnight and was wiped out Tuesday.

Stop at Walgreen's en route to Utah and get her a face mask. :wink:

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I forgot that Tony is one of the 33.5378% of North American skiers/boarders (and 22.1136% of his age demographic) who refuses to wear a helmet. Surprising for someone whose profession was to help assess levels of risk.
:-D

Now, someone will bring up the fact that Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he had his accident.

 

[berkshireskier]

yea, I was wondering too about his not wearing a helmet. With the amount of skiing he does, it seems somewhat crazy NOT to wear a helmet. I realize there is some debate about whether or not wearing a helmet while skiing or boarding reduces your chances of serious head injuries, but at least some of the studies have indicated that you can reduce the chances of a serious head injury by wearing a helmet. And I don't see a real downside to wearing a helmet, other than it might be quite as comfortable as a hat. I've worn a helmet for years and I'd feel naked on the slope if I did not have it on.

 

[EMSC]

Well, I still wear a hat on occasion, but not very often anymore. Depends on the location and type of skiing among other factors.

My impression of the research conducted to date was that "basic head injuries" are significantly reduced, but that helmets do nearly nothing as related to severe head trauma incidents. Which is why you still see reasonable frequency of deaths from head trauma despite helmet use.

Basically it does help, but is no where near a panacea. Not to mention the demographic for whom a helmet means "now I can do anything and go like a bat of of he** while ignoring any logic at all".

 

[Marc_C]

And I don't see a real downside to wearing a helmet, other than it might be quite as comfortable as a hat.

I have yet to find *any* helmet comfortable, be it skiing, climbing, or biking, or one that doesn't make me hot or cold at some point during the day.

 

[berkshireskier]

Well, I still wear a hat on occasion, but not very often anymore. Depends on the location and type of skiing among other factors.

My impression of the research conducted to date was that "basic head injuries" are significantly reduced, but that helmets do nearly nothing as related to severe head trauma incidents. Which is why you still see reasonable frequency of deaths from head trauma despite helmet use.

Basically it does help, but is no where near a panacea. Not to mention the demographic for whom a helmet means "now I can do anything and go like a bat of of he** while ignoring any logic at all".

Yea, I think you're right about these studies. If you hit a tree at 25 MPH, a helmet is probably not going to help you, but for lesser head collisions, the helmet might help reduce more serious head injuries.

 

[berkshireskier]

And I don't see a real downside to wearing a helmet, other than it might be quite as comfortable as a hat.

I have yet to find *any* helmet comfortable, be it skiing, climbing, or biking, or one that doesn't make me hot or cold at some point during the day.

I've gotten used to wearing the helmet and find it to be quite comfortable. I've never been cold with it on and have skied on some very cold days. I do find on warmer days, even with the air vents open, the helmet tends to overheat. Overall, I don' t see a lot of downside to wearing it and it may provide some protection.

 

[Marc_C]

Overall, I don' t see a lot of downside to wearing it and it may provide some protection.

Just to be clear - I'm not arguing for or against; merely relating my experiences over the years with helmets. I wear one always when biking, never when skiing (don't own one), and sometimes rock climbing, depending on a number of variables (which will also inform as to which of my 3 climbing helmets I may wear if I elect to wear one).

 

[Tony Crocker]

I have yet to find *any* helmet comfortable, be it skiing, climbing, or biking, or one that doesn't make me hot or cold at some point during the day.

+10 And for those who have skied with me, no surprise that means too hot 99% of the time. For Shasta the guide had me get a climbing helmet, which actually was comfortable for the conditions of that day. We brought those helmets on the Antarctic cruise, but for us "intermediate climbers" the guides never asked us to bring them on any of the ski days.

I was required to wear a ski helmet on one off piste run in Las Lenas. At the bottom of that 3,000 feet I looked like a drowned rat when I took the helmet off.