What are some good slides to get started on in Winter?

[DSettahr]

What are some good "easy" (relative term of course!) Slides to get started on Slide climbing in Winter?

[SummitHat]

Gothics True North is very nice, not too sketchy and is relatively quick to opt out of.

[JoeCedar]

What is now the center slide on Bennie's Brook (formerly the right hand slide) is pretty tame. It was getting rather grown-in before Irene (I was there the day before) but now it must be a straight shot to the little col (jaw) between the peaks on LWJ, about five minutes from the summit. As with most slides, it is steep right at the top but not so steep that you can't get up to the trail.

I don't know about current conditions or the new (larger) right hand slide which runs off the summit cone.

[pete_hickey]

Maybe not this year, but if you're doing winter slides, think of avalanches. That's where they happen.

[mudrat]

The conditions will obviously vary and the greatest concern is definitely Avalanches like Pete emphasized. Second greatest concern is not having aggressive enough axes and crampons. For me, the easiest slides to try in winter are the ones i'd steer people to in summer. This is really the 1st winter I've 'played' on them to any degree. Anyway, here's what I'd suggest fwiw.

1. Bennies Brook Center (like JoeCedar said), great bailout options...just turn around before the intersection
2. True North on gothics was quite easy this year and could have climbed the entirety without touching ice if i'd wanted to.
3. LWJ's new NW Ridge Slide on the other side of Bennies brook wasn't steep except at the very top pitch, good bailout options....again turn around before the intersection and the WJ path is right near the runout just below the Wolfjaws leanto
4. Kilburn after initial footwall, not as easy as the wolfjaws if you run into a problem
5. Great Slide on Grace (top can be tricky)
6. Colden SE slide has long runout but steep at top

[Gregory Karl]

A couple Mudrat didn't mention:

The Lake Placid Slide on Whiteface has a relatively easy pitch the whole way; the main hazard is red slime near the bottom but that only applies in summer—usually. Don't know about this year.

The new slide on Wright, the one to the right of the Angel, is also pretty tame, though a little steep toward the very top.

[tcd]

As other have mentioned, avalanches are a big watch out. The "formal" recommendation for winter slide travel would be to get training, and if you decide to go, go fully equipped (transceivers, probes, shovels). Most parties around here will not go to that extent. That said - at least do not go when there is a huge load of fresh snow, or weird weather like a sudden thaw and rain. And if you are in doubt, bail. And if you are in doubt, don't be out in the middle of the slide; be next to the trees, so if it's time to bail, you can do so immediately.

Agree that aggressive axes and crampons are also important, and training in their use. Many threads on that here, and on other forums.

I'm lazy and risk averse, so I usually wait until the slides pack down and corn up, which reduces avy risk (not to zero).

TCD