Quick report
- Aspect
- Southeast
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3078 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
Overall the snowpack structure on southerly facing slopes is something to keep an eye on. Everywhere I traveled there was faceted snow on the southerlies at the upper elevations. Right now there is not much weight on top of the weak layer in the areas I traveled. This could be a different story where wind loaded the slope. If we see a large storm I would imagine southerly facing terrain will also see large connected natural avalanches.
Unfortunetly we have been dealt a bad hand this year, and we need to make the best of it. The snowpack structure is very poor, and slab avalanches will remain the main issue - this will not be going away anytime soon. For me, I don't trust faceted snow at all. Every professional I know has a story of being tricked and or caught in an avalanche, and the weak layer was faceted snow. I've also lost several friends who played the game saying the slab was bridged, or there was no slab, or any other number of excuses I hear experienced people come up with.
The simple fact is the Wasatch will remain dangerous for the foreseeable future, and my strategy will be low angle terrain. Even though I was on a 28° slope yesterday, I still had a blast and enjoyed the new snow with my dad.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>I saw no natural slab avalanches in the upper BCC/Brighton surroundings in my travels. However, a<a href="/Brighton%20surroundings.%20Another%20observer%20reported%20a%20natural%20avalanche%20just%20over%20the%20hill%20from%20me%20on%20an%20NE%20facing%20slope.%20I%20did%20see%20a%20few%20small%20natural%20sluffs%20in%20the%20steep%20northerly%20facing%20terrain.">nother observer reported a natural avalanche just over the hill from me on an NE facing slope</a> in Caribou Basin. I did see a few small natural sluffs in the steep northerly facing terrain in Snake Creek North.</p> <p> </p>
Beautiful day to be in the mountains despite the warm temperatures. The snow was powder on all aspects and elevations in the morning, and by late in the day due south-facing terrain was damp. Some roller ball activity was noted.