Avalanche at Crystal Mountain destroys chairlift

The Seattle Times ^ | 3/10/2014 | Cathy McLain

[steve86]

[steve86]

Crystal Mountain Ski Resort Trail Map PDF

http://crystalmountainresort.com/files/1091/Maps_CM_10-15-13_FINAL_Web.pdf

[Uncle Miltie]

“Triggered by an explosive on The Throne”

I’ve had those, but not as bad.

[steve86]

I was never advanced enough to routinely ski the High Campbell lift, but I could have gotten down under good conditions.

[Uncle Miltie]

I once spent a whole sunny lunchtime in the spring sipping a frozen beer and watching an avalanche come down the side of Mount Rainier across the valley. Wow. It took nearly an hour from top to bottom.

[Uncle Miltie]

In 1980, my brother and I owned that mountain. He’s since passed. In memoriam, FJC.

[WayneS]

So, this avalanche was intentional?

[steve86]

You watched from the Summit House?

[steve86]

A much smaller version was intentional.

[Uncle Miltie]

Straight down Sunnyside with moguls as high as your waist, hips and knees flying, and your head unperturbed in a steady straight line down the mountain. Miss you, bro.

[bicyclerepair]

Now the skiers can’t tumble down the mountain side?
So hilarious.

[Resolute Conservative]

I hope David, Jennifer, and General Beringer got out okay.

[steve86]

That lift covered only a very small, but advanced part of the resort. Look at the trail map. It will be re-built this summer.

[Uncle Miltie]

Way back then, there was a chalet, don’t recall what it was named. We were sitting a few feet down the snowbank away from the lip of Green Valley. I had one of my first beers ever in hand. It had been in the snow all morning, and was frozen. Rainier Beer.

[WayneS]

I see.

Those avalanches DO have a way of getting out of control...

[Uncle Miltie]

In my Fiorini class, “If it holds snow, we ski it.”

We would try out some pretty outrageous slopes. We would get to the top, and someone would volunteer to jump onto the top few feet to see if it kicked off an avalanche. If not, we’d all go.

Once, a guy had to swim down with the avalanche he created. But he kept his head up.

[Uncle Miltie]

Bob. Wonder where Bob is now. Prolly dead. He was a great skier and teacher, but pretty fat. :-)

[Uncle Miltie]

I ran for political office once. I dropped into the shop, and Julie Fiorini said, “I’m so proud of you, the McCaw boys and Bill” (Gates). Ha!

Buzz was a friend through steelhead club.

(Apologies to all for my misty memory tour...)

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“I’ve had those, but not as bad.”

Yesterday I suffered a sneeze attack “on the Throne.” Thought I was gonna launch!

[Uncle Miltie]

And if anyone knows who I really am by now, send me a private message. :-)