A common motif is SH#T when discussing early season snowpack in the rocky Mountains. We’ve got sketchy snowpack all the way from the Interior of British Columbia to the mountains of Utah and Colorado.
Check out this video of Avalanche Control at Kicking Horse Mountain. Skip 41 seconds in (0:41) to see the action. The music is somewhat dramatic for “early season” avalanche control, but it does the trick, I mean I was hooked. [Editor Note:] Being a ski patrol is pretty bad ass, Yep I’ve had my problems with the granola-based ski patroller who, on many occasions, has pissed me off. BUT being a patroller is cool, and they do live a better life than you.
Ski Patrol get to: Shoot large guns, ski, throw dynamite, ski, drink beer, get first chair (before you even get up), always have first run, play with dogs, ski, sit around in their hut and act cool, ski, drink beer, sell t-shirts, have fires, ski, drink beer, dig snow pits, learn about aspect and slope, get to ride in helis, find dead bodies, break cornices, watch avalanches, ski cut, drink beer, play with their dog’s puppies, drink beer, ski, and help you if you’re hurt.