Old  Mans ripped huge sometime Thursday Morning, direct result of the cross loaded conditions created by the west Winds and heavy snow.  Wasn’t able to see it yesterday, as I took the advice of the updated message boards at the Poma and stayed away from the heavily loaded North aspects, choosing an East tree line next to a large slab that broke last week and hasn’t reset completely.

It sounded like  Old Mans ripped above Poc Rock, on the hard scarp area and stepped down. It  ran a good part of its track, wall to wall, into the areas that we consider safe areas to stop.  The big question now is what is stopping Benchmark from doing the same?  The only difference in terrain is the shrubbery in the middle, but don’t really think that would impede the formation of another wind slab release. Much of the middle, right middle of the bowl hasn’t been skied, and is sitting untouched.

Abe’s is the most popular route through the uppers, besides Tweeners.  There is an overall feeling that it is a safe line is due to the amount of people running the left side, but in a fifty year cycle, that is no safe area, especially if it runs to the Tele line run out.  Deep slab instabilities in areas not skied are the biggest threat in EV.