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- Jan 02, 2013
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Blue Bird Conditions for Avy Students!
With a winter full of incredible skiing, knee deep powder days, and bottomless snow packs, what could possibly make a weekend of skiing any better? BLUE BIRD!!! That’s right, this past weekend’s avalanche class not only enjoyed the benefits of some fun skiing, but also two beautiful days in the Mt. Rainier backcountry. MM guide Dallas Glass checks in with some news about some great students and mid-winter powder skiing.
What Rainier trip report would be complete without a photo of the mountain? Mt. Rainier, in all its mid-winter glory, made this wonderful day all the more special. Dallas Glass photo
“I remember my first avalanche class, we sat inside for hours on end, lecture after lecture, and then when we did head to the field, we spent hours sitting in a snow pit looking at crystal types and trying to fix broken snow density gauges. We definitely didn’t do much skiing. A lot has changed in avalanche education over the past several years. We still have inside lectures and we still dig a few snow pits, but we also like to get out there and enjoy the mountains and remember what brought us to this class in the first place: playing in the snow. As the group gathered in evo Ski and Board shop’s conference room, you could tell this group would be exciting in the mountains. Avalanche classes bringing together people from all walks of life into one room with one big item in common, our love for winter.
Making some observations to help us plan for our Sunday ski day. MM Students spend some time in the snow. Dallas Glass photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=d91da5fbd2f69722c56d6a07a694fd6b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=538660fa32fbe697a3fd05d3e71eca83 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=cd72e6fd9f604cc27ba1f08b81f61889 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=efa49654a19a86456a0c7b4cae64e2da 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e625b7d82a909118327f097cc62ff2ea 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=1f7d30dc806b4bdac493413de46ace6b 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=998a25398134eb80a536954f5d9c3e88 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2283.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=db34f29c5ddc64ca29ffb3aaa9893710 1024w)
Jason Slye photo
“After laying our foundation with some information about terrain, the snowpack, and backcountry teamwork, the group was ready to move out into the field and get neck deep in snow. We were not disappointed. Saturday on Mt. Rainier dawned in what would be my first blue sky ski day of the year. The group started the day with huge grins and a couple hundred feet of skiing before settling in for some serious learning. Several of us found ourselves all too literally waist deep in the snow as we were reminded how much fresh had fallen in the past few weeks. It was tough to stay focused as we saw other recreationist out playing in the snow, but everyone buckled down to insure Sunday would be our day to get after it.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=366d8150fab42de05c72255e87c82d18 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=38c84785f69c2fdd92b9201dfe3952d0 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=4d5d6ba777887eee5efbe96acd59fd23 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=6c2a984f707e070dedaa44a8c9ec2947 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=4fc0a1774309a65753878237ba9bb217 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=478fb2d3a439fe766e2f5adbfa7e9071 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=e1675c3985bd72ea91699fc728fb4848 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2247.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=db53b03f3e667e1a15b8fbbe7c1d342a 1024w)
Can you say “Blue Bird”? Stopping to discuss some recent snow observation and of course what line to ski. Jason Slye photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=6924c61909a326d1d0d554334553ab9c 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=067fd5b32d8a8468cc67a3f2089040c3 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=9084d7d04763b15b9d4369ca80aa0a16 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=387a2fc135bed843c7b5b60e05be1995 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f6cda08043aabe23dfaee9e331ac902a 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=cf908982315a0653056758a37d20c9f2 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=f8413d0a369fd1a9a3a52b84a044983c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2274.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b03d2b9cc98c4b97f5ed61e410a1f6c2 1024w)
All smiles! Nothing better than enjoying the rewards of good observations, good planning, and a great ski day. Jason Slye photo
“As we left Paradise parking lot Saturday evening, a fresh few inches of snow was falling and we wondered if the clear sky forecast for Sunday would come true. Well, Sunday morning it was time to break out the shades and sun screen! Without a cloud in the sky our two touring groups set out the backcountry with a beautiful mid-winter Mt Rainier towering over our heads. The groups previous day’s observations and careful tour planning were paying off as we found great stable snow to ski. This is where I feel avalanche education has really changed; what better way to apply our newly acquired skills than to go skiing together? And ski we did, getting in a respectable 2000’ of powder skiing before we needed to head back to our cars. Sharing a bluebird ski day with new friends, learning new skills, and coming home safe; who could ask for more?”
~ MM Guide Dallas Glass
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=1bfdaf28b9a3df38b91b813d91724bfd 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=248f3c6b660ff7d6b9d37bac61e2ac9e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=c921db98c8ddb7c83bb22b3699c7c26f 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a37c4953395166317734351af9be3bde 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=0c28d63df75d164cbb92f281dedbc39e 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c004eda4411366bdbc32201492db75c9 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=df2feb8534a5989ae5fb065ca88a932e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2333.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=54b5400311eea28418b19ae9bfc5e994 1024w)
Dallas bringing up the rear after a great day of skiing. Jason Slye photo