Uintas

Problemi valanghivi

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta quota
  • Limite del bosco
  • Sotto il limite del bosco

  Probabilità

  Possible

  Dimensione

  4

  The snowpack is getting comfortable in own it's skin and slowly adjusting to last weeks big storm. However, recent snowpit stability tests and a couple isolated collapses suggest our adolescent pack has a few growing pains to sort through and the distinct possibility of triggering a deep, dangerous slide still exists. And while it occurred earlier in the week, Tuesday's big slide clearly shows us that in the right terrain you can still trigger an avalanche that gets quickly out of hand. Now here's where it gets even more tricky. Many steep slopes throughout the range experienced a widespread natural avalanche cycle late last week, but recent snow and wind has filled in much of that evidence. So today it's all gonna look white and that's the challenge. You can ride some slopes without incident (perhaps they already slid) and think you're good to go, while an adjacent slope that remained intact throughout the storm, is just waiting for a trigger like us to roll up and tip the balance.

  So, as the snowpack strengthens we're faced with a personal travel conundrum... the chances of triggering a large slide diminish, while the consequences remain just as devastating. With odds like that I'm not willing to bet my life on it and I'm not willing to bet yours either! Fact is, we're at a critical juncture in the life of the snowpack where all it takes is for us to come along and collapse a slope, essentially knocking the legs out from underneath it, and now we're staring down the barrel of an unmanageably, dangerous avalanche.

  Of course you wanna know... "how do we manage an unmanageable avalanche?" Well with all the great riding out there and plenty of alternative options, we simply avoid the terrain where it exists. You know the drill by now.... steep, rocky, wind drifted slopes, especially those facing the north half of the compass.

  Both JG and Weston D were in lower elevation terrain yesterday and found similarities in their pits... relatively weak snow, a few collapses, but the snowpack is beginning to relax and adjust to last weeks big load.

  More Uinta obs found here.

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  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta quota
  • Limite del bosco
  • Sotto il limite del bosco

  Probabilità

  Possible

  Dimensione

  2

  Winds have been all over the place and there's no shortage of snow to blow around and form fresh, stiff drifts along the leeward side of upper elevation ridges and around chutes and gullies. Don't get fooled into thinking today's fresh drifts are the only avalanche dragon you're dealing with. Underneath the new drifts are several layers of old, connected drifts, that once triggered, will break deeper and wider than you might expect. Today you'll want to utilize all the awareness tools in your quiver. Look for obvious clues to unstable snow like shooting cracks out in front of our skis, board, or sled. Also remember to avoid any fat, rounded piece of snow especially if it sounds hollow like a drum. And finally the hugest clue... recent avalanches on the same kind of terrain you want to ride on.

  Cracking around or out in front of your skis, board, or sled is a big indicator to wind drift formation. If you're seeing this red flag down low, you can expect a bigger brother version the higher you go in elevation.