Avalanches and the Frog Lake Huts | E30

Fresh off a return from a two-night ski adventure at the Frog Lake Huts, right before PowBot’s departure for Japan, the boys do a catch up, recapping the of the most dangerous periods of avalanche conditions ever in the Sierra Nevada. The boys discuss the unfortunate inbounds fatality on KT-22 opening day at Palisades Tahoe and PowBot recounts the only time he’s ever been fully buried in an avalanche – inbounds at Sugar Bowl – and a second recovery he was involved in immediately after being unburied by a partner. The boys also chat about the inherent dangers of skiing inbounds on a storm day, terrain management, proper recovery gear, the dangers of group think and the expert halo, the risks of traveling in the backcountry and methods employed to stay safe even on considerable and high avalanche danger days, and why PowBot thinks avalanche education and safety is better in Canada and Europe than the U.S. The last third of the show recaps the boys’ trip to the Frog Lake Huts (where Mind the Track was born a year ago) and successfully negotiating avalanche terrain in dangerous conditions en route. They also discuss why there are so many no-shows at Frog Lake despite sold-out reservation status.

2:00 – PowBot and Trail Whisperer fresh off a hut trip to Frog Lake. Lots going on with the snowpack in Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.

5:15 – Trail Whisperer featured on PBS Reno Wild Nevada show, an episode about the Toiyabe Crest Trail project. For interested volunteers, reach out to us with a DM or message.

9:00 – Unstable snowpack and a dangerous avalanche cycle in the Sierra Nevada including a fatality inbounds at Palisades Tahoe on KT-22.

11:45 – What are snow facets and why do they make for dangerous avalanche conditions?

15:30 – PowBot’s full burial inbounds avalanche story from Sugar Bowl

26:00 – The safety culture of ski resorts with open boundaries featuring sidecountry and backcountry access.

28:00 – The difference between RECCO and an avalanche beacon.

31:00 – Being aware and cautious when skiing inbounds on a storm day and ski with a partner.

35:00 – Terrain management is the number one consideration when skiing in the backcountry.

38:00 – Where are things at currently with the snowpack? Has it stabilized?

39:45 – The Snoop Pow Dogg Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderiffic Snow Report

41:15 – PowBot going to Hakuba, Japan to slash Japow for the first time ever.

42:20 – Conjecture around the inbounds fatality at Palisades Tahoe.

46:45 – The Loveland Pass avalanche and the topic of people not reporting avalanches.

48:45 – Information sharing system in Canada regarding snowpack and avalanche activity.

49:50 – New York Times feature by John Branch – “Snow Fail – The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”

50:30 – Jeremy Jones video about an avalanche burial on the north face of Castle Peak.

51:30 – It’s really hard to die in the backcountry mountain biking. It’s really easy to die in the backcountry skiing.

55:00 – Recap on the Frog Lake Huts trip and traveling in considerable avalanche conditions.

1:11:00 – The difference between riding a singletrack and a cutting in a skintrack.

1:14:00 – The high no-show rate at the Frog Lake Huts and PowBot’s rant about guides booking out the huts in advance, and Truckee Donner Land Trust opening reservations to more than two nights.

1:25:00 – Where do you carry your avalanche beacon, probe and shovel?

1:32:00 – The dangers of group think and the expert halo.

1:34:00 – PowBot getting fired up for his trip to Japan.