Observation: Snowbasin Backcountry

Quick report

Red Flags

Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comment

<p>Saw 3 small natural sluffs from presumably earlier in the day. The conifers were laden with enough snow that they began dropping large amounts today, and it appears that a few of these were sufficient to cause small point release avalanches in steep E and NE terrain some time before I arrived. Slope angle estimated at 40 degrees, ca 7300-7400ft, running in the new snow for 20-30ft perhaps 6" deep. Did not get close enough to actually check or get good photos of these because it was obvious avalanche terrain.</p> <p>Snowpack initially seemed much less touchy than my recent forays on Cutler Ridge. Very easy shears in hand pits, but beyond that, no real cracking/collapsing on SE-E-NE test slopes below 6800ft. Didn't seem like there was enough snow on the ground before this storm system. A tiny bit of basal depth hoar here and there and a few inches of crusty junk. Above that was 1F to F right side up snow.</p> <p>HOWEVER, above 6800ft it seemed like someone flipped the switch to the "unstable" setting. Had localized collapsing/cracking at my skis on E and SE zones. More frequent and a bit longer cracks (1m past ski tips) on NE and N terrain. Also had a somewhat puckering large collapse on a 28deg NE slope at 6900ft. Felt and heard the whumpf reverberating in waves down the entire slope, an area of approx 25ft across by 50ft down. </p>