Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3200 m
- Slope Angle
- 14°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No cracking, collapsing or avalanche activity observed (however, see below for a report of an avalanche in the Tushars on the PWL 6-10 days ago). Several dry loose 1-2" deep point releases noted on steep terrain.</p> <p>Today I spoke I spoke with a guide in the area who said there was an avalanche that failed on the PWL 6-10 days ago between Eagle Point Resort and Puffer Lake on a north facing slope. 5' crown. Not sure if this occurred naturally or with an explosive or what. In the context of that discussion the guide stated he recommended staying low angle. In the North facing pit I dug Monday the PWL is buried under 6' of snow and on the west facing slope from today the PWL is buried under 4.5 feet of snow. Given the Tushars reputation for high wind and overall less snowpack than other parts of Utah (in particular the marquee Wasatch range), this PWL may be buried under less snow in certain areas and therefore easier to trigger relative to other areas in Utah.</p>
below is a photo of some of the flakes falling in the on and off flurries throughout my tour.
below is a photo of the 2mm rounding facets in the 0-40 cm layer.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>There was evidence of wind transport on higher slopes and in wind-favored areas. On higher slopes (above treeline) viewed in the distance there were clear dune like wind formations and I would bet there are some sensitive wind slabs up there. In other wind-favored areas such as around trees and in open fields there was some wind transport occurring. Mainly things looked pretty peaceful in the area I was in with mostly undisturbed fresh snow and snow sticking to the trees, especially on north facing slopes. Other aspects of trees snow would be somewhat stripped I believe on the south side of trees.</p> <p> Today I spoke I spoke with a guide in the area who said there was an avalanche that failed on the PWL 6-10 days ago between Eagle Point Resort and Puffer Lake on a north facing slope. 5' crown. Not sure if this occurred naturally or with an explosive or what. In the context of that discussion the guide stated he recommended staying low angle.</p> <p>In the North facing pit I dug Monday the PWL is buried under 6' of snow and on the west facing slope from today the PWL is buried under 4.5 feet of snow. </p> <p>No collapsing, cracking, or avalanche activity noted on tour. 1-2" deep dry loose point releases observed on steep terrain.</p> <p>Given the Tushars reputation for high wind and overall less snowpack than other parts of Utah (in particular the marquee Wasatch range), this PWL may be buried under less snow and therefore easier to trigger relative to other areas in Utah. </p>
About 2 inches of new snow on top of the 13" of storm snow from earlier this week.