Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2469 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>On north aspects the facets are not healing very well. I also skied a couple of runs on a NW aspect, still punchy.</p> <p>Lot's of signs of wind loading including drifts up to 3' deep, all nonreactive.</p>
HS-48"
Of note: Two areas of basal facets separated by a decomposing melt-freeze crust. The lower part of the mid-pack has consolidated to 2-finger hardness. Still very easy to isolate columns to the ground with a ski pole.
ECTP 21, Q2.5 at 40" below the surface (Yikes!) in the facets above the melt-freeze crust. This is spooky for several reasons including:
It is greater than 3' down, which is where it is supposed to be hard for a skier to trigger something from the surface. I typically feel 3' is not enough of a cushion.
It is late February, basal facets are typically healed way before now. I am not confident that they will heal at all this year.
Photos below:
1. ECTP 21 Q2.5 results, glove sitting on failure plane, facets on top of crust.
2. facets, rounding a bit but still very loose and weak.
Other photos:
1. Wind affect
2. Trenching thru wind drifts.
Overall a solid Considerable hazard above 8,000' on north aspects. I felt like I was tip-toeing around all day.
If anyone wants to get in touch with me about snow/avalanche questions in SW Utah, I can be reached at [email protected]. I would be happy to walk anyone through the observation process. All observations are appreciated.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Somewhere between persistent and deep slab, an ECTP broke at 3.5' below the surface (see below) Mostly on the north 1/3 of the compass.</p> <p>Still fist hardness facets down deep.</p> <p>Wind slabs in many areas, although generally nonreactive, they have added additional load to the facets. </p>
1" in town, 4" at 6,500' trailhead. HST 4-6". I only made it to 8,200' today. There is 16" sitting on the most recent suncrust on protected east aspects at 7,800'. Recent storms are enough that driving to the 6,500' trailhead may not be possible after the next storm. I was the only pilgrim to drive in this morning.