CARVE FEBRUARY 2015
Y O U R G U I D E TO S K I I N G A N D S N O W B O A R D I N G I N S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N A
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SNOW SCIENCE THE SCIENCE BEHIND SNOWFLAKES, FACESHOTS
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GOING THE DISTANCE: WARM-WEATHER SKI TOURING IN THE BRIDGER RANGE BREAK ON THROUGH: TIPS TO HELP BUST OUT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SKI RUT STEPPING OUT: AREA SNOWSHOE TRAILS OFFER WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E B O Z E M A N D A I LY C H R O N I C L E
PHOTO: CHRIS KERR SKIER: MONICA THOMAS LOCATION: BIG SKY BACKCOUNTRY
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DECIDING FACTOR Backcountry safety often comes down to timing Backcountry skiing and snowmoway to escape being hurt or killed biling has exploded in popularity in in an avalanche, this can be difficult the last decade. Every winter more when spending season after season folks hit the backcountry in pursuit in the backcountry. The best chance of steep mountain faces and unof surviving an avalanche burial is tracked powder. Some days this is companion rescue. Without relying a safe decision while other days it is 100 percent on luck, companion resnot. Avalanches are all about timing. cue is best conducted if each group Over the past 10 years Montana rates member has rescue gear and knows second in the nation for all avalanche how to use it. fatalities (Colorado is first) and first for Although transceiver practice is snowmobilers. essential, it’s important that backAs we seek steeper lines and country enthusiasts practice other regularly play in avalanche terrain it’s components of companion rescue. As important to have the latest rescue new transceiver technologies speed gear. Carrying an avalanche up search times, more transceiver, shovel, and attention is being focused probe continues to be the on probing and shovelindustry standard, but ing. The latest research developing technology indicates that excavation such as balloon packs are is now the most time conimproving the chances suming part of a rescue. of survival if caught or According to the CAIC buried in an avalanche. The (Colorado Avalanche Inforpurpose of balloon packs is mation Center), the averto prevent deep burial, ulage burial depth in the U.S. BY ERIC KNOFF timately decreasing search is 1.16 meters. Dependand excavation time. If ing on terrain and snow properly deployed, balloon density, the time it takes a packs improve the chances of survival single companion rescuer to excavate by 11 percent. a victim buried over a meter deep However, having the best rescue is substantial. Practicing strategic equipment does not guarantee a shoveling is now equally as important successful recovery. Despite the as practicing transceiver searches. advancements of rescue technology, As rescue technology improves, a person has a 46 percent chance of it remains essential all backcounsurviving if completely buried. Natutry recreationists understand the rally, the quicker a person is uncovcapabilities of both themselves and ered the better chance they have of rescue gear. It is clearly documented surviving. that the chances of a successful Research indicates that a fully burcompanion rescue increase with ied victim has an 80 percent chance experience and practice. Remember, of survival if uncovered in less than 10 If you get buried it’s going to be your minutes. The chance of survival drops partner who saves your life. Thus, it is drastically with every passing minute. essential that everyone takes the time If buried for 12 minutes the chance to get educated in the latest rescue of survival drops to 40 percent. Once techniques. t buried for 30 minutes the chance of survival drops to 20 percent. These numbers represent burials without trauma. Out of all avalanche fatalities, Eric Knoff is an avalanche forecaster one out of four die from trauma. with the Gallatin National Forest AvaAlthough avoidance is the best lanche Center in Bozeman.
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BREAKING A LEG
Lower extremity injuries common in skiing, snowboarding Some days it just does not pay to get disrupted by the injury. A smaller number out of bed. Jen felt she had done everyof these injuries will be open, what used to thing right up until this moment. She had be referred to as a compound fracture. In a moderately healthy breakfast, made it up this setting, the energy of the injury causes the mountain early enough to avoid the the broken bone to penetrate the soft snail crawl up to Bridger Bowl that would tissues. This markedly increases the risk of have occurred maybe 30 minutes later. Jen complications and expedited medical care had checked her gear, stowed her shovel is essential to a good outcome. In some and made sure both her and her cases, whether the injury is open partner’s beacons were functionor closed, boot top tibia fractures ing. None the less, here she was, can result in dangerous swelling sitting in the snow in full view within the muscular compartof the Schlasman lift, one ankle ments of the leg. The pressure pointed the correct way, one not within the compartments can rise so much. To say it hurt was just high enough that oxygen can no a little bit of an understatement. longer reach the tissues, resultJen was happy to see ski patrol ing in ischemia and cell death. working their way down to her Untreated, this condition known and ready to start her journey as compartment syndrome can BY DR. ALEX LEGRAND to the hospital, surgery and result in loss of limb. Treatment eventual recovery. is emergent surgical decompresAt some ski hills around the country, ski sion to relieve the pressure. patrollers will refer to skiers down with a Most tibia fractures in adults are treated knee injury as an AFK (another — knee). with surgery, typically with a rod placed Knee injuries represent about a third of down the center of the bone. Although it injuries sustained by skiers and a somewhat can take 6-9 months for the bone to fully lower number for snowboarders. Knee heal, most fractures will go on to uneventful injuries from ski hills are so common they healing. Although these fractures can usuget much of the attention from the medical ally heal in a cast, the fractures tend to heal community, gear manufacturers and the in a non-anatomic fashion (rotated, crooked media. We all hear about Lindsey Vonn’s or shortened) which can lead to other isACL injuries and surgeries, yet it was a sues down the line. By comparison, when non-knee related injury (severed hamstring children suffer these injuries, the vast matendon) that has Bode Miller discussing jority are treated with a cast. Although the retirement. This article will discuss the lower fracture may initially heal in a non-anatomic extremity injuries that commonly occur alignment, over time the growth plates from skiing and snowboarding that do not allow remodeling of the fracture such that it affect the knee. will appear perfect on Jen’s injury represents a boot top fracture. x-rays later in life. This is a very common injury that occurs A unique injury that when the momentum of a skier is transdisproportionally afmitted through the tibia and fibula and fects snowboarders is generally results in a torsional force that a fracture of the lateral exceeds the strength of these lower extrem- process of the talus. ity bones. This results in the bones breaking, The talus is a smallish often in a spiral fashion, typically starting at bone that makes up the level of the ski boot. At this point, the the bottom part of leg then bends between the knee and ankle the ankle joint. If the which is not ideal. Bindings that are set too ankle is dorsiflexed tight can contribute to this injury, as can (toes maximally tothe speed the skier is travelling at, the mass wards shin) and then of the skier (more weight equals more mothe ankle is rolled, mentum at a given speed) and the strength the lateral (outside of the bones themselves. part) process can get Most tibia fractures are closed, meansheared off. Although ing the skin, muscle and fascia are not this injury is very un-
common in the general population, it is an extremely common injury in snowboarders and is often referred to as a “snowboarder’s ankle”. This injury will typically present with swelling and pain, sometimes accompanied by the inability to walk. Over the next 24-48 hours, significant bruising will often show up on the outside of the ankle. Unfortunately, this injury can often be missed in emergency departments (one study showed a missed rate of 50% in the ER). Standard radiographs (x-rays) may show only subtle changes or even no changes at all. Efficient diagnosis can often be made by an orthopedic surgeon, ideally one specialty trained in foot and ankle. When there is a strong clinical suspicion for this injury, a computed tomography (CT) scan is the study of choice to confirm the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment can be operative or non-operative. Prior to formal treatment by an orthopedic surgeon, usually splinting and crutches are used to prevent further injury to the ankle joint from bone fragments. If the fracture is non-displaced (hasn’t moved), treatment is usually immobilization with a cast or boot for 6-8 weeks along with crutches. In cases where the fragment(s) are displaced, surgery is generally recommended. Depending on the size and location of the fragments, surgery can involve removing the broken pieces or the use of screws to repair the fracture. Showing that the naming systems orthopedic surgeons use to describe some of these injuries to be somewhat arbitrary at times (believe or not, not only athletes get athlete’s foot), a common injury suffered by both skiers and snowboarders is tennis leg. This injury refers to an injury, usually a partial tear, of the gastrocnemius muscle. The gastrocnemius is the most visible component of the calf muscles, sitting superficial
to the other main part, the soleus muscle. Injuries tend to occur to the medial head of the gastroc, sitting posterior and just below the knee joint on inside part of the leg. The mechanism of injury is usually a forceful plantarflexion (toes going away from the shin) and seems to occur in snow sports as a corrective mechanism when a fall is eminent. The constrictive nature of ski boots and to a lesser extent snowboard boots restricts the ankle’s ability to plantarflex, send more force through the muscles providing the force. People experiencing tennis leg will often report feeling a pop or even a sensation of getting struck in the back of the leg. Typically this injury is very painful and is accompanied by difficulty walking and leg swelling. The diagnosis can usually be made based on physical exam and history, along with negative radiographs. Although the injury can seem disabling at first, treatment is conservative with the expectation of essentially full recovery. Usually a period of rest in a walking boot is the initial treatment followed by formal physical therapy. Full recovery can be expected by about 3 months after injury. While ski related knee injuries garner much of the attention (and help pay my mortgage), other lower extremity injuries are also quite common. If you find yourself in the situation of experiencing one of these injuries, your orthopedic surgeon and often physical therapist can help you navigate through diagnosis, treatment and eventual return to the slopes. t Dr. Alex LeGrand is a board certified fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is the Director of sports medicine at the Montana State University athletic department and is a U.S. Ski Team physician.
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STORY BY JASON BACAJ I PHOTOS BY CHRIS KERR
SNOW d SCIENCE THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET BEHIND SNOWFLAKES AND THOSE EPIC FACESHOTS THEY CREATE
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HE SNOW WINKS BACK in the morning light, untrammeled and beckoning as the slope rolls away. Gravity gives a tug and the snow folds open. Edges sink in and snow starts to rise, flooding over knees and thighs and chest and finally your shoulders and into your face. The snow picks up the skis and, just as the thought crosses your mind, brings you into the next turn. More snow cascades over you as the turn troughs out and the slope brings you into a weightless world known only to powder riders and those who passed on and have the chance to ski through towering cumulonimbus clouds. The slope passes in a series of turns threaded together and punctuated with shots of cold smoke to the face — the ultimate sign of a good ski day.
“The feeling of snow in your face brings it all together,” said Mark Staples, local avalanche forecaster, referring to the hours of weather watching, trail breaking and safety preparation that can go into the perfect powder run. “(It’s) hard to put into words, but nothing else can compare.” But what all is in that fluffy glory wrapped around our grinning faces? It turns out that powder snow is more than awesomeness in a semi-solid state. Snowflakes form when cloud-borne water molecules condense together and crystallize. Water vapor around it sticks on and freezes, building out the classic snowflake structure that adorns many a hat and tacky Christmas sweater. More often than not the process isn’t started by water simply freezing at a low temperature on its own accord. The vapor must have something to glom onto first. In Montana State University’s Subzero Science and Engineering Research Facility, strings are used as particulate for the water vapor to grow around. The pure
snow is used to for studying the dynamics of avalanches and how environmental conditions affect the snow. Snow doesn’t form around translucent strings dangling about clouds, however. Water vapor tends to grab onto particles hanging high in the atmosphere, like dust or bacteria, and freeze into flakes, a process called nucleation. Dust that snow forms around comes from whichever direction the prevailing wind originates, said Scott Coulstone, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. It can come from as far away as China or as nearby as Oregon or California. Exactly where the dust or ash particles that help form snow come from in a given season is tough to pinpoint. Coulstone said it’s best to think of the snow-forming upper atmosphere as a mixture of dust from all over, trace amounts hailing from a variety of places. As for the bacteria, it appears one in particular has an affinity for forming snow: Pseudomonas syringae.
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large role in bringing snow to the mountains it isn’t necessary to go out and buy a snorkel to keep from ingesting bacteria by the hundreds of thousands with each run. It’s estimated that for every thousand snowflakes, one has a bacterium at its heart. MSU plant pathology professor David Sands came across the P. syringae’s ability to cause precipitation in the late 1970s while researching a crop disease caused by a variation of the bacterium that causes frostbite on plants. Frostbite injures the plant and allows the bacteria access to the plant’s nutrients. After an experiment showed Sands that the bacteria weren’t in the ground or on the seed initially, he boarded a small airplane to search the skies above the affected wheat fields. Bacteria soon grew in the petri dishes he stuck out the plane’s window while passing through clouds. P. syringae, Sands learned through research, had evolved to use precipitation as a way to disperse itself. The bacterium works up the plant and in mid-day the bacteria dry out and flake off like dandruff and are carried aloft by the wind, he explained. Once in the clouds, the long and detailed protein structure that surrounds the bacteria begins to work on descending back to earth, where the bacteria have a chance to live and proliferate once more. The protein structure creates a sort of outer shell that’s perfectly built to
accommodate water molecules. Sands described the protein structure as similar to an egg carton, with pockets that fit perfectly around water molecules. When enough water vapor clings to the bacterium, it forms a droplet — or if it’s cold enough, a snowflake — and falls back to Earth. “Water molecules fit in there and they quit wiggling around as much, and if it’s cold enough they stay there and more crystals lie on top… and you get ice nucleation,” Sands said. “It’s a very big deal for the snow industry that’s scared shitless right now.” In an experiment to see how prevalent the bacteria was in snow around town, Sands involved Bridger Bowl, Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin and the Yellowstone Club. Snow was collected by each lift throughout the season. When it was melted down and refrozen, Sands and a colleague found that P. syringae formed 70 percent of the snow crystals. It’s unclear far the snow-causing effects of a bacteria colony reach. Sands is currently researching that topic, analyzing 100 years of daily weather recordings from weather stations all
BREAK ON THROUGH
over the country. But the bacteria cause flakes to form is beyond doubt; dead P. syringae are the main ingredient in Snomax, a powder used in snowmaking operations around the world. Though bacteria may play a large role in bringing snow to the mountains it isn’t necessary to go out and buy a snorkel to keep from ingesting bacteria by the hundreds of thousands with each run, Sands said. The best office chair guess he could offer was that for every thousand snowflakes, one has a bacterium at its heart. “(Snowflakes) go up and down, up and down, breaking (apart),” Sands said. “The best nucleator is actually ice. You don’t need a bacterium for every snowflake.” t
DRIVER OR PASSENGER? High-end skiers can make a wide range of movements with their skis, most of them intentional. They push on the skis, tip them, pivot them, and spring them up off the snow. In contrast, intermediate skiers tend to ride on top of their skis. Their primary goal is usually balancing on top of the skis while going down the hill, trying not to get left behind. The skis seem to be the boss and the passenger is along for the ride, hoping for the best. So, step one for the aspiring skier is this: push on your skis. Don’t just stand on top of them, tell them what to do! Try this simulation. While standing still, draw a line across the tops of your skis about 6 inches in front of your toes. Now imagine trying to break your skis in half along that line. C’mon, really crank on them, put some serious muscle into it. Uh huh, now check out how you’re standing on the skis. Your
CHRIS DONOVAN
EXPERTS ONLY: Tips to bust through your intermediate rut Topics for these columns are frequently drawn from conversations with clients, random chairlift partners, and man-onthe-slopes impressions of burning questions in skiers’ minds. A familiar theme goes something like this: “I ski great on the groomed, but I don’t like bumps.” “A few inches of powder is nice, but beyond that I struggle.” “I ski best when it’s sunshine and soft corduroy.” Of course, we are all masters of the hill when we’re smack dab in the middle of our comfort zone, and that’s a wonderful thing. After all, skiing is fun. If we want to do something hard we can practice calculus or learn German. But sometimes that comfort zone can get mighty comfortable. This is particularly true if we practice the BY KARIN KIRK same set of moves all the time. While cruising benevolent groomers is perfectly great, are you putting yourself in a rut by skiing the same way on every run? What undiscovered joys may lie within your reach, but outside your normal habits? Let’s explore the broad plateau of the Intermediate Zone, and see how you can go beyond it.
THOUGH BACTERIA may play a
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CHRIS KERR
Daniel Boteler performs his own “scientific research” on the Ridge at Bridger Bowl.
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The best place to direct your energy is on the big toe edge of your outside ski.
PASSENGER Balancing on top of the skis
GRANT NAKAMURA
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DRIVER Pressing on the outside ski, putting energy and purpose into the turn joints are flexed, you’re pressing forward, you’re standing like an athlete… holy cow… that is just how you’ve been told you are supposed to stand on your skis. Except now it’s not a just a pose, it has actual purpose. Imagine that! OK, next step — which ski should you push on? The outside ski. The outside ski just loves to be cranked on, and nice rewards will come your way if you try it. By pushing on that outside ski, you will be flexing the ski, bending it into an arc, and making the ski turn. Meanwhile, your body won’t be left behind because you will be driving the pace and taking an active role in what your skis are doing. Lastly, balancing over your outside leg is an efficient and effective way to stand on the skis. Sharp readers will recognize this theme from previous columns because it’s fundamental to good skiing. Let’s get a little bit more specific. Not
only do you want to push on your outside ski, ideally you’ll push with the part of your foot in the neighborhood of your big toe. That focuses all of your massive power directly to the part of the ski that matters most: the inside edge of the outside ski, in the area right under your foot. Think of this as the ski’s sweet spot, where your effort is rewarded with maximum dividends. Once you get the feel of it, you can casually toss around the term “sweet spot.” As in, “Duuude. I was, like, totally dialed in on the sweet spot on that run. Did you catch that on video?” ADD VERSATILITY BY CHANGING TIMING Another hallmark of skiers who are stuck in a rut is that they make the same turn all the time. That’s why those skiers are off their game on powder days or in
bumps — because their standard move suddenly does not fit the conditions. The fix for this is easy. Vary your timing, and along with it, the intensity of your movements. If push on your outside ski gradually throughout the turn, you’ll get a long-radius turn. If you push with a sharp, focused effort, the result will be a short, snappy turn. Most of us tend to loll along in medium to large radius turns much of the time. If you want to improve your versatility, bring short turns into your repertoire more often. Try confining your turns to one or two groomer widths and seek an upbeat, purposeful tempo. Or mix up your rhythm by skiing some short, medium, and long turns all in the same run. Better yet, throw in some hockey stops a few times per run. Those do wonders for developing power and timing, and of course are indispensible for dousing your ski partners in snow spray. To wrap up this theme: press on your skis and do it like you mean it. Focus your energy on the big toe edge of your outside ski. Apply this move with varying rhythm and intensity. And most of all, ski in the driver’s seat rather than riding along as a passenger. In addition to improving your skills, I think you’ll find this is a reassuring and empowering way to ski, and it can take you to new places in your skiing. Give it a shot and have fun! t
Karin Kirk is a ski instructor, staff trainer, and Ridge guide at Bridger Bowl. While she is not especially great at calculus or German, she does enjoy skiing in the sweet spot. She can be reached at karin@kirkframeworks. com.
up your timing and The hockey stop is a classic way to dial your friends, but ting dus for ts intensit y. Bonus poin attempts to be rad. please don’t run them over in your
CHRIS DONOVAN
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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE S N O W S H O E I N G O F F E R S C H A N C E TO E X P LO R E A R E A M O U N TA I N S I N T H E W I N T E R
3011 Max Ave. • Bozeman, MT (406) 586-4381 • BobWards.com
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I have to admit that I was one of those people who thought snowshoeing was really boring. I’d be trudging down an old road or staying to the side of ski tracks wishing I was on my skinny skis. Turns out, I wasn’t doing it right. Snowshoeing seems simple: strap on the shoes and walk, right? But it’s all about choosing the right location. Roads and trails groomed for crosscountry skiing are fine, but snowshoes allow you to get into places that skis won’t easily go. Think winding trails or tree-choked hillsides. To make snowshoeing fun, pick a destination. Maybe it’s an icy, alpine lake. Or a frozen waterfall, easy summit, or ridgeline. Follow your favorite creek and leap from side to side when it narrows. Leave the packed trails to skiers and pick a place with powder (if you can find it this year!). Climbing through fluff and bounding back down, makes snowshoeing positively delightful. Bring a sled. You can pack out a fast track with the snowshoes, then bomb down on a toboggan. Plus, you can drag
tired kids when they start whining. Sleds are a great way to get extra weight off your back. Go ahead—bring an extra thermos of hot cocoa. Don’t forget to stop and make snow people and snow angels. This isn’t a forced march, it’s having fun in the snow. If you need more excitement, turn some of your favorite childhood games into snowshoe play. Red Light-Green Light, Hide and Seek, and Mother May I take on another dimension when played in the snow. There are lots of great places to snowshoe around the Gallatin Valley. You don’t need a trail; be an explorer. But, if you are looking for somewhere to start, here are some favorites.
New World Gulch Trail New World Gulch Trail is located southeast of Bozeman branching off of Bear Canyon along the east slope of Mount Ellis. The trail climbs the drainage 4.7 miles to Mystic Lake, but you don’t have to go the whole way.
Hyalite Canyon South of Bozeman, Hyalite Canyon offers ample opportunities for an adventurous snowshoer. Park anywhere and start walking, but do be aware of avalanche danger. A good starting point is the History Rock Trail. This is
CARVE
CARVE is published monthly from December to February by Big Sky Publishing.
EDITOR/DESIGN Chris Kerr
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION contact the Bozeman Daily Chronicle at 587-4491.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jason Bacaj, Doug Chabot, Terry Cunningham, Sean Forbes, Melynda Harrison, Karin Kirk, Eric Knoff, Dr. Alex LeGrand
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS are welcome and can be submitted to Chris Kerr at 582-2643 or carve@dailychronicle.com
YOUR GUIDE TO SOUTHWEST MONTANA SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
a popular backcountry ski area, so the trail will most likely be well tracked. Follow the switchbacks up to several meadows. From there, start exploring!
Truman Gulch Like most trails on the west side of the Bridger Range, Truman Gulch climbs just the right amount for a snowshoer. The drainage sits between Saddle Peak and Ross Peak, just to the west of Bridger Bowl Ski Area. The trail stays close to the stream as it wanders through rolling, forested hills.
Chestnut Mountain Trail East of Bozeman, just south of the Trail Creek exit, Chestnut Mountain Trail climbs 2200 feet in 4.6 miles past
the spectacular Frog Rock pinnacles to the ridge of Chestnut Mountain. The trail starts on an easement through private land. Stay on the trail through this section. You’ll see a National Forest sign when you enter public land. If you climb high enough on this trail, mountains will start jutting out in all directions—the Bridgers, the Crazy Mountains, and the Absarokas dominate the skyline. And if you are not ready to go on your own, Montana Wilderness Association leads guided snowshoe hikes each winter, and even has snowshoes to borrow. FLOW Outdoors, also leads snowshoe trips and snowga (snowshoeing plus yoga!). — Melynda Harrison
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BRIDGER TRAVERSE
CLASSIC LINE
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JASON BACAJ
WITHOUT SUCH NUISANCES AS POWDER DAYS to deal with, February’s unseasonably warm weather had left ample opportunity to check items off the adventure list this winter. My friend Tyler had this in mind a couple weeks ago when he stashed a vehicle near Bridger Bowl after a day of skiing. We had talked about traversing along the ridge of the Bridger Range from the ‘M’ to Saddle Peak for a couple years. Yet another high pressure system with sunny skies and good stability seemed like the ideal time to go. We took off in the pre-dawn dark and gained the ridge as the sun started to creep over the Absaroka Range. It wasn’t until the base of Baldy Mountain that the snow was consistent enough to start skinning. The route went quickly once along the ridgeline, skirting windslabs and navigating a long corniced section were the only distraction from the alpine panorama. Gathering clouds and wind gusts around 50 mph encouraged us to not dawdle once we reached Saddle. We skated past Schlasman’s Lift before 2 p.m., wanderlust sated for the day and ready for a drink. t
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WALK ON THE WILD SIDE S N O W S H O E I N G O F F E R S C H A N C E TO E X P LO R E A R E A M O U N TA I N S I N T H E W I N T E R
3011 Max Ave. • Bozeman, MT (406) 586-4381 • BobWards.com
Like us on facebook.com/bobwards
I have to admit that I was one of those people who thought snowshoeing was really boring. I’d be trudging down an old road or staying to the side of ski tracks wishing I was on my skinny skis. Turns out, I wasn’t doing it right. Snowshoeing seems simple: strap on the shoes and walk, right? But it’s all about choosing the right location. Roads and trails groomed for crosscountry skiing are fine, but snowshoes allow you to get into places that skis won’t easily go. Think winding trails or tree-choked hillsides. To make snowshoeing fun, pick a destination. Maybe it’s an icy, alpine lake. Or a frozen waterfall, easy summit, or ridgeline. Follow your favorite creek and leap from side to side when it narrows. Leave the packed trails to skiers and pick a place with powder (if you can find it this year!). Climbing through fluff and bounding back down, makes snowshoeing positively delightful. Bring a sled. You can pack out a fast track with the snowshoes, then bomb down on a toboggan. Plus, you can drag
tired kids when they start whining. Sleds are a great way to get extra weight off your back. Go ahead—bring an extra thermos of hot cocoa. Don’t forget to stop and make snow people and snow angels. This isn’t a forced march, it’s having fun in the snow. If you need more excitement, turn some of your favorite childhood games into snowshoe play. Red Light-Green Light, Hide and Seek, and Mother May I take on another dimension when played in the snow. There are lots of great places to snowshoe around the Gallatin Valley. You don’t need a trail; be an explorer. But, if you are looking for somewhere to start, here are some favorites.
New World Gulch Trail New World Gulch Trail is located southeast of Bozeman branching off of Bear Canyon along the east slope of Mount Ellis. The trail climbs the drainage 4.7 miles to Mystic Lake, but you don’t have to go the whole way.
Hyalite Canyon South of Bozeman, Hyalite Canyon offers ample opportunities for an adventurous snowshoer. Park anywhere and start walking, but do be aware of avalanche danger. A good starting point is the History Rock Trail. This is
CARVE
CARVE is published monthly from December to February by Big Sky Publishing.
EDITOR/DESIGN Chris Kerr
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION contact the Bozeman Daily Chronicle at 587-4491.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jason Bacaj, Doug Chabot, Terry Cunningham, Sean Forbes, Melynda Harrison, Karin Kirk, Eric Knoff, Dr. Alex LeGrand
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS are welcome and can be submitted to Chris Kerr at 582-2643 or carve@dailychronicle.com
YOUR GUIDE TO SOUTHWEST MONTANA SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
a popular backcountry ski area, so the trail will most likely be well tracked. Follow the switchbacks up to several meadows. From there, start exploring!
Truman Gulch Like most trails on the west side of the Bridger Range, Truman Gulch climbs just the right amount for a snowshoer. The drainage sits between Saddle Peak and Ross Peak, just to the west of Bridger Bowl Ski Area. The trail stays close to the stream as it wanders through rolling, forested hills.
Chestnut Mountain Trail East of Bozeman, just south of the Trail Creek exit, Chestnut Mountain Trail climbs 2200 feet in 4.6 miles past
the spectacular Frog Rock pinnacles to the ridge of Chestnut Mountain. The trail starts on an easement through private land. Stay on the trail through this section. You’ll see a National Forest sign when you enter public land. If you climb high enough on this trail, mountains will start jutting out in all directions—the Bridgers, the Crazy Mountains, and the Absarokas dominate the skyline. And if you are not ready to go on your own, Montana Wilderness Association leads guided snowshoe hikes each winter, and even has snowshoes to borrow. FLOW Outdoors, also leads snowshoe trips and snowga (snowshoeing plus yoga!). — Melynda Harrison
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large role in bringing snow to the mountains it isn’t necessary to go out and buy a snorkel to keep from ingesting bacteria by the hundreds of thousands with each run. It’s estimated that for every thousand snowflakes, one has a bacterium at its heart. MSU plant pathology professor David Sands came across the P. syringae’s ability to cause precipitation in the late 1970s while researching a crop disease caused by a variation of the bacterium that causes frostbite on plants. Frostbite injures the plant and allows the bacteria access to the plant’s nutrients. After an experiment showed Sands that the bacteria weren’t in the ground or on the seed initially, he boarded a small airplane to search the skies above the affected wheat fields. Bacteria soon grew in the petri dishes he stuck out the plane’s window while passing through clouds. P. syringae, Sands learned through research, had evolved to use precipitation as a way to disperse itself. The bacterium works up the plant and in mid-day the bacteria dry out and flake off like dandruff and are carried aloft by the wind, he explained. Once in the clouds, the long and detailed protein structure that surrounds the bacteria begins to work on descending back to earth, where the bacteria have a chance to live and proliferate once more. The protein structure creates a sort of outer shell that’s perfectly built to
accommodate water molecules. Sands described the protein structure as similar to an egg carton, with pockets that fit perfectly around water molecules. When enough water vapor clings to the bacterium, it forms a droplet — or if it’s cold enough, a snowflake — and falls back to Earth. “Water molecules fit in there and they quit wiggling around as much, and if it’s cold enough they stay there and more crystals lie on top… and you get ice nucleation,” Sands said. “It’s a very big deal for the snow industry that’s scared shitless right now.” In an experiment to see how prevalent the bacteria was in snow around town, Sands involved Bridger Bowl, Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin and the Yellowstone Club. Snow was collected by each lift throughout the season. When it was melted down and refrozen, Sands and a colleague found that P. syringae formed 70 percent of the snow crystals. It’s unclear far the snow-causing effects of a bacteria colony reach. Sands is currently researching that topic, analyzing 100 years of daily weather recordings from weather stations all
BREAK ON THROUGH
over the country. But the bacteria cause flakes to form is beyond doubt; dead P. syringae are the main ingredient in Snomax, a powder used in snowmaking operations around the world. Though bacteria may play a large role in bringing snow to the mountains it isn’t necessary to go out and buy a snorkel to keep from ingesting bacteria by the hundreds of thousands with each run, Sands said. The best office chair guess he could offer was that for every thousand snowflakes, one has a bacterium at its heart. “(Snowflakes) go up and down, up and down, breaking (apart),” Sands said. “The best nucleator is actually ice. You don’t need a bacterium for every snowflake.” t
DRIVER OR PASSENGER? High-end skiers can make a wide range of movements with their skis, most of them intentional. They push on the skis, tip them, pivot them, and spring them up off the snow. In contrast, intermediate skiers tend to ride on top of their skis. Their primary goal is usually balancing on top of the skis while going down the hill, trying not to get left behind. The skis seem to be the boss and the passenger is along for the ride, hoping for the best. So, step one for the aspiring skier is this: push on your skis. Don’t just stand on top of them, tell them what to do! Try this simulation. While standing still, draw a line across the tops of your skis about 6 inches in front of your toes. Now imagine trying to break your skis in half along that line. C’mon, really crank on them, put some serious muscle into it. Uh huh, now check out how you’re standing on the skis. Your
CHRIS DONOVAN
EXPERTS ONLY: Tips to bust through your intermediate rut Topics for these columns are frequently drawn from conversations with clients, random chairlift partners, and man-onthe-slopes impressions of burning questions in skiers’ minds. A familiar theme goes something like this: “I ski great on the groomed, but I don’t like bumps.” “A few inches of powder is nice, but beyond that I struggle.” “I ski best when it’s sunshine and soft corduroy.” Of course, we are all masters of the hill when we’re smack dab in the middle of our comfort zone, and that’s a wonderful thing. After all, skiing is fun. If we want to do something hard we can practice calculus or learn German. But sometimes that comfort zone can get mighty comfortable. This is particularly true if we practice the BY KARIN KIRK same set of moves all the time. While cruising benevolent groomers is perfectly great, are you putting yourself in a rut by skiing the same way on every run? What undiscovered joys may lie within your reach, but outside your normal habits? Let’s explore the broad plateau of the Intermediate Zone, and see how you can go beyond it.
THOUGH BACTERIA may play a
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CHRIS KERR
Daniel Boteler performs his own “scientific research” on the Ridge at Bridger Bowl.
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The best place to direct your energy is on the big toe edge of your outside ski.
PASSENGER Balancing on top of the skis
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DRIVER Pressing on the outside ski, putting energy and purpose into the turn joints are flexed, you’re pressing forward, you’re standing like an athlete… holy cow… that is just how you’ve been told you are supposed to stand on your skis. Except now it’s not a just a pose, it has actual purpose. Imagine that! OK, next step — which ski should you push on? The outside ski. The outside ski just loves to be cranked on, and nice rewards will come your way if you try it. By pushing on that outside ski, you will be flexing the ski, bending it into an arc, and making the ski turn. Meanwhile, your body won’t be left behind because you will be driving the pace and taking an active role in what your skis are doing. Lastly, balancing over your outside leg is an efficient and effective way to stand on the skis. Sharp readers will recognize this theme from previous columns because it’s fundamental to good skiing. Let’s get a little bit more specific. Not
only do you want to push on your outside ski, ideally you’ll push with the part of your foot in the neighborhood of your big toe. That focuses all of your massive power directly to the part of the ski that matters most: the inside edge of the outside ski, in the area right under your foot. Think of this as the ski’s sweet spot, where your effort is rewarded with maximum dividends. Once you get the feel of it, you can casually toss around the term “sweet spot.” As in, “Duuude. I was, like, totally dialed in on the sweet spot on that run. Did you catch that on video?” ADD VERSATILITY BY CHANGING TIMING Another hallmark of skiers who are stuck in a rut is that they make the same turn all the time. That’s why those skiers are off their game on powder days or in
bumps — because their standard move suddenly does not fit the conditions. The fix for this is easy. Vary your timing, and along with it, the intensity of your movements. If push on your outside ski gradually throughout the turn, you’ll get a long-radius turn. If you push with a sharp, focused effort, the result will be a short, snappy turn. Most of us tend to loll along in medium to large radius turns much of the time. If you want to improve your versatility, bring short turns into your repertoire more often. Try confining your turns to one or two groomer widths and seek an upbeat, purposeful tempo. Or mix up your rhythm by skiing some short, medium, and long turns all in the same run. Better yet, throw in some hockey stops a few times per run. Those do wonders for developing power and timing, and of course are indispensible for dousing your ski partners in snow spray. To wrap up this theme: press on your skis and do it like you mean it. Focus your energy on the big toe edge of your outside ski. Apply this move with varying rhythm and intensity. And most of all, ski in the driver’s seat rather than riding along as a passenger. In addition to improving your skills, I think you’ll find this is a reassuring and empowering way to ski, and it can take you to new places in your skiing. Give it a shot and have fun! t
Karin Kirk is a ski instructor, staff trainer, and Ridge guide at Bridger Bowl. While she is not especially great at calculus or German, she does enjoy skiing in the sweet spot. She can be reached at karin@kirkframeworks. com.
up your timing and The hockey stop is a classic way to dial your friends, but ting dus for ts intensit y. Bonus poin attempts to be rad. please don’t run them over in your
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BREAKING A LEG
Lower extremity injuries common in skiing, snowboarding Some days it just does not pay to get disrupted by the injury. A smaller number out of bed. Jen felt she had done everyof these injuries will be open, what used to thing right up until this moment. She had be referred to as a compound fracture. In a moderately healthy breakfast, made it up this setting, the energy of the injury causes the mountain early enough to avoid the the broken bone to penetrate the soft snail crawl up to Bridger Bowl that would tissues. This markedly increases the risk of have occurred maybe 30 minutes later. Jen complications and expedited medical care had checked her gear, stowed her shovel is essential to a good outcome. In some and made sure both her and her cases, whether the injury is open partner’s beacons were functionor closed, boot top tibia fractures ing. None the less, here she was, can result in dangerous swelling sitting in the snow in full view within the muscular compartof the Schlasman lift, one ankle ments of the leg. The pressure pointed the correct way, one not within the compartments can rise so much. To say it hurt was just high enough that oxygen can no a little bit of an understatement. longer reach the tissues, resultJen was happy to see ski patrol ing in ischemia and cell death. working their way down to her Untreated, this condition known and ready to start her journey as compartment syndrome can BY DR. ALEX LEGRAND to the hospital, surgery and result in loss of limb. Treatment eventual recovery. is emergent surgical decompresAt some ski hills around the country, ski sion to relieve the pressure. patrollers will refer to skiers down with a Most tibia fractures in adults are treated knee injury as an AFK (another — knee). with surgery, typically with a rod placed Knee injuries represent about a third of down the center of the bone. Although it injuries sustained by skiers and a somewhat can take 6-9 months for the bone to fully lower number for snowboarders. Knee heal, most fractures will go on to uneventful injuries from ski hills are so common they healing. Although these fractures can usuget much of the attention from the medical ally heal in a cast, the fractures tend to heal community, gear manufacturers and the in a non-anatomic fashion (rotated, crooked media. We all hear about Lindsey Vonn’s or shortened) which can lead to other isACL injuries and surgeries, yet it was a sues down the line. By comparison, when non-knee related injury (severed hamstring children suffer these injuries, the vast matendon) that has Bode Miller discussing jority are treated with a cast. Although the retirement. This article will discuss the lower fracture may initially heal in a non-anatomic extremity injuries that commonly occur alignment, over time the growth plates from skiing and snowboarding that do not allow remodeling of the fracture such that it affect the knee. will appear perfect on Jen’s injury represents a boot top fracture. x-rays later in life. This is a very common injury that occurs A unique injury that when the momentum of a skier is transdisproportionally afmitted through the tibia and fibula and fects snowboarders is generally results in a torsional force that a fracture of the lateral exceeds the strength of these lower extrem- process of the talus. ity bones. This results in the bones breaking, The talus is a smallish often in a spiral fashion, typically starting at bone that makes up the level of the ski boot. At this point, the the bottom part of leg then bends between the knee and ankle the ankle joint. If the which is not ideal. Bindings that are set too ankle is dorsiflexed tight can contribute to this injury, as can (toes maximally tothe speed the skier is travelling at, the mass wards shin) and then of the skier (more weight equals more mothe ankle is rolled, mentum at a given speed) and the strength the lateral (outside of the bones themselves. part) process can get Most tibia fractures are closed, meansheared off. Although ing the skin, muscle and fascia are not this injury is very un-
common in the general population, it is an extremely common injury in snowboarders and is often referred to as a “snowboarder’s ankle”. This injury will typically present with swelling and pain, sometimes accompanied by the inability to walk. Over the next 24-48 hours, significant bruising will often show up on the outside of the ankle. Unfortunately, this injury can often be missed in emergency departments (one study showed a missed rate of 50% in the ER). Standard radiographs (x-rays) may show only subtle changes or even no changes at all. Efficient diagnosis can often be made by an orthopedic surgeon, ideally one specialty trained in foot and ankle. When there is a strong clinical suspicion for this injury, a computed tomography (CT) scan is the study of choice to confirm the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment can be operative or non-operative. Prior to formal treatment by an orthopedic surgeon, usually splinting and crutches are used to prevent further injury to the ankle joint from bone fragments. If the fracture is non-displaced (hasn’t moved), treatment is usually immobilization with a cast or boot for 6-8 weeks along with crutches. In cases where the fragment(s) are displaced, surgery is generally recommended. Depending on the size and location of the fragments, surgery can involve removing the broken pieces or the use of screws to repair the fracture. Showing that the naming systems orthopedic surgeons use to describe some of these injuries to be somewhat arbitrary at times (believe or not, not only athletes get athlete’s foot), a common injury suffered by both skiers and snowboarders is tennis leg. This injury refers to an injury, usually a partial tear, of the gastrocnemius muscle. The gastrocnemius is the most visible component of the calf muscles, sitting superficial
to the other main part, the soleus muscle. Injuries tend to occur to the medial head of the gastroc, sitting posterior and just below the knee joint on inside part of the leg. The mechanism of injury is usually a forceful plantarflexion (toes going away from the shin) and seems to occur in snow sports as a corrective mechanism when a fall is eminent. The constrictive nature of ski boots and to a lesser extent snowboard boots restricts the ankle’s ability to plantarflex, send more force through the muscles providing the force. People experiencing tennis leg will often report feeling a pop or even a sensation of getting struck in the back of the leg. Typically this injury is very painful and is accompanied by difficulty walking and leg swelling. The diagnosis can usually be made based on physical exam and history, along with negative radiographs. Although the injury can seem disabling at first, treatment is conservative with the expectation of essentially full recovery. Usually a period of rest in a walking boot is the initial treatment followed by formal physical therapy. Full recovery can be expected by about 3 months after injury. While ski related knee injuries garner much of the attention (and help pay my mortgage), other lower extremity injuries are also quite common. If you find yourself in the situation of experiencing one of these injuries, your orthopedic surgeon and often physical therapist can help you navigate through diagnosis, treatment and eventual return to the slopes. t Dr. Alex LeGrand is a board certified fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is the Director of sports medicine at the Montana State University athletic department and is a U.S. Ski Team physician.
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STORY BY JASON BACAJ I PHOTOS BY CHRIS KERR
SNOW d SCIENCE THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET BEHIND SNOWFLAKES AND THOSE EPIC FACESHOTS THEY CREATE
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HE SNOW WINKS BACK in the morning light, untrammeled and beckoning as the slope rolls away. Gravity gives a tug and the snow folds open. Edges sink in and snow starts to rise, flooding over knees and thighs and chest and finally your shoulders and into your face. The snow picks up the skis and, just as the thought crosses your mind, brings you into the next turn. More snow cascades over you as the turn troughs out and the slope brings you into a weightless world known only to powder riders and those who passed on and have the chance to ski through towering cumulonimbus clouds. The slope passes in a series of turns threaded together and punctuated with shots of cold smoke to the face — the ultimate sign of a good ski day.
“The feeling of snow in your face brings it all together,” said Mark Staples, local avalanche forecaster, referring to the hours of weather watching, trail breaking and safety preparation that can go into the perfect powder run. “(It’s) hard to put into words, but nothing else can compare.” But what all is in that fluffy glory wrapped around our grinning faces? It turns out that powder snow is more than awesomeness in a semi-solid state. Snowflakes form when cloud-borne water molecules condense together and crystallize. Water vapor around it sticks on and freezes, building out the classic snowflake structure that adorns many a hat and tacky Christmas sweater. More often than not the process isn’t started by water simply freezing at a low temperature on its own accord. The vapor must have something to glom onto first. In Montana State University’s Subzero Science and Engineering Research Facility, strings are used as particulate for the water vapor to grow around. The pure
snow is used to for studying the dynamics of avalanches and how environmental conditions affect the snow. Snow doesn’t form around translucent strings dangling about clouds, however. Water vapor tends to grab onto particles hanging high in the atmosphere, like dust or bacteria, and freeze into flakes, a process called nucleation. Dust that snow forms around comes from whichever direction the prevailing wind originates, said Scott Coulstone, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. It can come from as far away as China or as nearby as Oregon or California. Exactly where the dust or ash particles that help form snow come from in a given season is tough to pinpoint. Coulstone said it’s best to think of the snow-forming upper atmosphere as a mixture of dust from all over, trace amounts hailing from a variety of places. As for the bacteria, it appears one in particular has an affinity for forming snow: Pseudomonas syringae.
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DECIDING FACTOR Backcountry safety often comes down to timing Backcountry skiing and snowmoway to escape being hurt or killed biling has exploded in popularity in in an avalanche, this can be difficult the last decade. Every winter more when spending season after season folks hit the backcountry in pursuit in the backcountry. The best chance of steep mountain faces and unof surviving an avalanche burial is tracked powder. Some days this is companion rescue. Without relying a safe decision while other days it is 100 percent on luck, companion resnot. Avalanches are all about timing. cue is best conducted if each group Over the past 10 years Montana rates member has rescue gear and knows second in the nation for all avalanche how to use it. fatalities (Colorado is first) and first for Although transceiver practice is snowmobilers. essential, it’s important that backAs we seek steeper lines and country enthusiasts practice other regularly play in avalanche terrain it’s components of companion rescue. As important to have the latest rescue new transceiver technologies speed gear. Carrying an avalanche up search times, more transceiver, shovel, and attention is being focused probe continues to be the on probing and shovelindustry standard, but ing. The latest research developing technology indicates that excavation such as balloon packs are is now the most time conimproving the chances suming part of a rescue. of survival if caught or According to the CAIC buried in an avalanche. The (Colorado Avalanche Inforpurpose of balloon packs is mation Center), the averto prevent deep burial, ulage burial depth in the U.S. BY ERIC KNOFF timately decreasing search is 1.16 meters. Dependand excavation time. If ing on terrain and snow properly deployed, balloon density, the time it takes a packs improve the chances of survival single companion rescuer to excavate by 11 percent. a victim buried over a meter deep However, having the best rescue is substantial. Practicing strategic equipment does not guarantee a shoveling is now equally as important successful recovery. Despite the as practicing transceiver searches. advancements of rescue technology, As rescue technology improves, a person has a 46 percent chance of it remains essential all backcounsurviving if completely buried. Natutry recreationists understand the rally, the quicker a person is uncovcapabilities of both themselves and ered the better chance they have of rescue gear. It is clearly documented surviving. that the chances of a successful Research indicates that a fully burcompanion rescue increase with ied victim has an 80 percent chance experience and practice. Remember, of survival if uncovered in less than 10 If you get buried it’s going to be your minutes. The chance of survival drops partner who saves your life. Thus, it is drastically with every passing minute. essential that everyone takes the time If buried for 12 minutes the chance to get educated in the latest rescue of survival drops to 40 percent. Once techniques. t buried for 30 minutes the chance of survival drops to 20 percent. These numbers represent burials without trauma. Out of all avalanche fatalities, Eric Knoff is an avalanche forecaster one out of four die from trauma. with the Gallatin National Forest AvaAlthough avoidance is the best lanche Center in Bozeman.
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CARVE FEBRUARY 2015
Y O U R G U I D E TO S K I I N G A N D S N O W B O A R D I N G I N S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N A
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SNOW SCIENCE THE SCIENCE BEHIND SNOWFLAKES, FACESHOTS
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PLUS
GOING THE DISTANCE: WARM-WEATHER SKI TOURING IN THE BRIDGER RANGE BREAK ON THROUGH: TIPS TO HELP BUST OUT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SKI RUT STEPPING OUT: AREA SNOWSHOE TRAILS OFFER WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E B O Z E M A N D A I LY C H R O N I C L E
PHOTO: CHRIS KERR SKIER: MONICA THOMAS LOCATION: BIG SKY BACKCOUNTRY