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Has anyone ever built Pyramids gap?

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K.C.Deane
Posts: 1730 - Karma: 315
I was wondering if anyone in here has built Pyramids, If you have or know someone that can help me out with build time, amount of people needed, Avi danger, etc. can you PM me or post in here. Thanks
Dec 24 2008 2:34PM
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steph32
Posts: 32 - Karma: 10
I've not hit it, but feel that I know enough to offer something. 

The run in has a super flat section, and it seems like you can build the kicker anywhere from 50 feet back to 120.  It can take anywhere from 3 hours to about 8 I imagine depending on how gnar you wanna get.  Some kids last year built it super tiny in one day.    Th, and hit it same day.  The avy danger in that area isn't terrible.  Grizzly is pretty mellow... faces south, so the snow gets shitty quick, and some wet slides from time to time, but I've never seen anything super intense. 
Dec 24 2008 3:26PM
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nathanielstyza
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 38
i am moving out to SLC this season so i would be down to hit it with you. i dont know much specifics about it besides how to get there.
let me know.
Dec 24 2008 8:25PM
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Tortao
Posts: 1292 - Karma: 10
ive built it up before, the jump isnt bad, its the in-run that takes the longest to set up
Dec 24 2008 8:51PM
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BskiP
Posts: 1369 - Karma: 223
i hope this turns into a how do you get to chads gap from the bottom of alta thread.
Dec 24 2008 11:38PM
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dylhole
Posts: 2925 - Karma: 939
Just wait til someone else builds it and dust it off.
Dec 25 2008 12:33AM
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BrodyLeven
Posts: 7016 - Karma: 187
i think i have to disagree about the avalanche danger.  if you don't really know what you're doing I don't think you should be up there at the end of grizzly because where it wraps at the end has faces that are on all aspects.
Dec 25 2008 12:55AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
The avy danger is very considerable there, there are plenty of places that are high risk in that part of grizzly. Unless you are confident in the snowpack it's a really bad idea to set up some of those jumps. Pyramid is more mellow than others, but the snowpack is setting up HORRIBLY right now. check it out

www.avalanche.org/~uac
Dec 25 2008 1:39AM
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fuckyocouch
Posts: 965 - Karma: 501
hit up stanyo, hes a fellow moment rider/homie and has been talking about pursuing pyramid this winter.  seriously though, the snowpack needs to set up. Today in the brighton sidecountry our group set off a series of considerable size avalanches that went all the way to the ice covered rocks with 2-3 foot fractures. Be careful.
Dec 25 2008 2:18AM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
haha, I was accidentally logged into my friends name...  But yeah.. the Avy danger isn't terrible if you have a brain. 
Dec 25 2008 1:26PM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
Damnit... and I was thinking of years past, or when it gets good.  I wouldn't step foot out of a gate right now given the current conditions.... but what I meant to say was once the snow pack settles that area is relatively mellow compared to most of the things in the Wasatch.  If you're smart about it and don't go up with everything is sliding you should be ok... but again, it's all specific depending on that particular day...
whatever you do, be safe, and build it big like when T.Rice hit is a few years ago.
Dec 25 2008 1:28PM
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powfoka
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 160
people get fucked up in grizzly..... dont go without someone that has some experience up there and knows whats going on!
Dec 25 2008 7:22PM
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Flik
Posts: 150 - Karma: 229
We hit it a few years ago. The in-run is the part that takes the longest.  The main thing that messed us up is a roller that is about 20 feet from where you build the kicker.  It is EXTREMELY important to spend a lot of time to get rid of it otherwise you lose a lot of speed on it.  Also we built our in-run a little to far to skiers right.  We put it right next to the trees which causes another gnarly roller.  move the inrun a little more to the middle of the opening.  If you want top know the ideal setup there is a movie with pep, mahre, and kye that hit it.  I forget the name but it shows really well how the in-run should be set up. I have a video (it's not good filming) on my profile from when we hit it.  A buddy of mine did a D-Spin into the wall.  And yes you shouldn't be up there if the avy danger is high.
Dec 25 2008 11:10PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
i haven't built there..but there is no way I would take a step in the backcountry right now..the avalanche danger is rediculously hight right now.
Dec 26 2008 12:02AM
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K.C.Deane
Posts: 1730 - Karma: 315
Ya things are super high Avi danger everywhere. But we arent going to be coming out until Feb so things should calm down by then.

So for those that built it , it does seem pretty reasonable to go and get up early in the AM and get it built by at the very least noon. Assuming that we have like say....6-8 guys digging. And first off i dont think any one has the intentions of hitting it switch. OR would you go up the afternoon before and start digging and risk someone else poaching your jump.
Dec 26 2008 5:24AM
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Flik
Posts: 150 - Karma: 229
Yeah you probably could. But it always takes longer than you think.  Like I said the in-run is what takes a really long time , and if it's not a really solid in-run it will ruin the whole thing. We had about 4-5 people crash because of the roller I mentioned.  It take a lot of speed.  We went up the day before at about noon (started hiking at noon) and built till the sun started to go down.  Then the next morning we got up there pretty early to work on the in-run.  Either way you'd be fine.
Dec 26 2008 9:07AM
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K.C.Deane
Posts: 1730 - Karma: 315
Ya i watched that vid. I didnt know that roller was that big, it looks freaking huge.
So just guessing how often does Pyramid get hit up? I mean some of the famous jump spots in Tahoe like for instance half dome, or I-80 drop doesnt get hit every storm, it only gets sessioned about 4 times a year so you never know if you have to get there at 4 am or if you can just roll up at like 10 and be fine.

Dec 26 2008 1:28PM
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GrippinGs
Posts: 4960 - Karma: 196
If you do it right its a multi-day build. Which is why it only gets set up a few times a year, if that...
Dec 27 2008 5:02AM
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K.C.Deane
Posts: 1730 - Karma: 315
So if its a multi day build, and it sets up super fast do you start on the inrun during or before a storm? Or do you do it two days in a row after the storm and have a baked landing?
Dec 27 2008 10:19PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
From what i have gathered from people who hit it, you probably want to do a lot of work the day before the storm, then hit it as soon as you can after. Dawn patrol that the day you want to hit it so you can check the stability of the slopes and clear out your in-run and jump before the sun comes out in full force. Also, then you can make sure you are the first people out there.
Dec 27 2008 10:26PM
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GrippinGs
Posts: 4960 - Karma: 196
definitely build as much as possible before the snow falls. That way its more of a...clear the new snow off your set up.. then a build everything as you watch the pow get manky shovel sesh.
Jan 3 2009 1:39AM
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rodeo1620
Posts: 67 - Karma: 10

I hit the gap with "flik" a couple years ago. Like he said and as I'm sure you saw from the film the roller and runway placement is the biggest issue. If that roller was knocked out correctly you could use that snow to help build the jump wider than we did, which would also be a plus. Also moving the runway skiers left from where we were would help too. To do it right it really does take a full day of building with a good crew. That area is VERY avanche prone so check with Utah avalanche center. I would be totally stoked to attack it again. It is an awesome gap. Its super easy to access, especially if you have AT gear. Boot packing it takes about 30-45 minutes. It would be really fun to do it again! I went past it on saturday after we got 13 inches and it REALLY got me stoked to go for it again. Looks like you have pretty much all your questions answered but Id be stoked to do it with you. Hit me up!

Jan 4 2009 11:48PM
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DinosaurRcool
Posts: 534 - Karma: 20
first you pile up all the snow for the landing, then wait for pow then gap to the landing you built. the inrun and take off are already there

thats how you can build it from 50-120ft...
Jan 5 2009 3:12AM
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PopsicleStand
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 147
when MFM builds it he just stomps his tims around until the snow is packed down.

just watch out he may stomp you out too
Jan 6 2009 7:32PM
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