There is a first time for everything!

noah · Since 19 Oct 2006 171 Posts Bozeman, Montana Stoked

There is a first time for everything!

For many years I have been smugly satisfied that as a snowkiter I am often kiting intermediate terrain which poses no risk to being buried in an avalanche. On risky days when the avy cycle was considerable or high, I knew that my friends and I were safe from avalanche danger and could enjoy the deep, fresh powder without worry. Further, on steeper terrain, we are usually kiting on the windward slope, the mountain side that is quite stable.

However, as our kite skills have advanced that has smugness has disappeared. We are seeking out steeper and steeper terrain and placing ourselves into situations that do pose an objective hazard to snow slides.

Recently I was kiting in Wyoming’s Big Horn mountains and was seeing lots of small pockets of wind loaded terrain releasing remotely. These pockets of unstable, wind loaded snow were popping 400 - 500 yards away as I kited nearby on shallower terrain. They were running on faceted snow buried near the ground level.

On our second day, a group of us arrived on the SW side of Bald Mountain and saw that nothing had released after considerable (3 -4 feet) of new snowfall. Having kited this side of the mountain many, many times I know the mountain like my backyard. I knew that if I kited the cornice line I could bust the cornice, get some movement, release the hang fire and thereby stabilize the lower slopes. I launched my kite, my 15m Ozone Summit, and proceeded to make one pass above the cornice. Nothing moved. The cornice was rock solid, anchored firmly in place. Following that, I made a couple passes on the lower slope, keeping well away from the overhanging portions of the cornice. Still nothing moved. Again, I was well away from any overhanging portions of the steeper ridge.

On my third pass, ripping along in the fresh powder, in an instant the slope around me erupted in a fury of moving snow. Blocks and bricks of the avalanche roiled downward. I reacted calmly and brought my kite high, took advantage of the localized ridge lift and floated my skis lightly above the maelstrom. The experience of kite skiing above the moving snow was enchanting. The visual experience of seeing an avalanche from above was amazing; it was as if I was in a river rapid. Kiting in a cascading flow of moving snow was certainly a first for me and, while momentarily exhilarating, not an experience I want to repeat.

As kiters seeking out steep terrain in high, remote mountains we need to increase our safety preparedness. Beacons, shovels, probes, experienced partners, PLB’s, first aid training, rescue training, are just a few of the basics that our sport now requires. We have long past the days of kiting in farm fields with limited skills or preparedness. The times have changed and we need to have the awareness to be ready for the unlikely day that things don’t go as planned.

Thanks for reading and windy regards,

Noah - Powered by Ozone Kites

Freeride Kiter · Since 08 Jul 2011 698 Posts Alaska / PNW / Baja Instructor

Keep this experience on hand when you get to Haines.

sagebrush · Since 31 Oct 2009 209 Posts north,van,bc Stoked

Great post,very informative.as a friend said many years ago to me,who i thought knew alot about avalanches and terrain."All the experts are dead"

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

excellent post, thanks, great reminder!

Thanks for the photos as well