Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I did not actually physically see any red flags today but I am well aware that a poor snowpack structure exists on those north facing slopes I was looking down into Days Fork.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The knowledge of the poor snowpack structure is enough to keep me off steep west, north and east facing slopes. I did get a good look into Days during a clearing and did not see any natural avalanche activity from the storm. I walked along the ridge, poking and prodding but did not get any collapsing or cracking. I would say that things are not 'hair trigger'. However, I do feel that it is quite likely a person would trigger an avalanche if they get onto steep slopes.</p> <p>The Persistent Slab problem is not present on the southerly slopes which is why I chose this route today. I felt quite comfortable on the southerly aspects. My partner and I still skied one at a time, mainly sticking to ridges, and stopped in safe locations keeping an eye on each other. Seems like things were fairly stable on the Emma Ridges although I wouldn't feel too comfortable skiing down the gut in one of the many gullies.</p>
The new snow was more user friendly than I anticipated. I was thinking it was going to be very upside down with difficult trail breaking and submerging skis on the decent. Not so. A distinct rime crust formed overnight and was present on the southerly aspects at all elevations of the Flagstaff ridge. I noted that it was present anywhere I poked into the north facing slopes in upper Days Fork. It will be interesting to see the extent of this crust around the central Wasatch.