Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Slope Angle
- 29°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>first rapid warming today putting even more stress on snowpack</p>
We purposely held our slope angles in check until we had investigated the pack right where we wanted to ski, after having a look, we pushed the angles over 35 in a little test pocket that had run during the Christmas Storm, but without any effect. This particular place had filled back in with new and drifting snow, no cracking, collapsing or hint on in stability. This is a look at the pack prior to ski testing a steeper, low consequence slope.
ECT test
105 cm total at Miller Flat with 40 cm of settled snow on interval board from last 2 weeks
Typical wind damage, worse in some places, dirt showing on some exposed N facing summit ridges
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>most failures we have had in last couple of weeks have been up in the snowpack, not full depth, but slide reported in Rolfson Canyon on Presidents Day was still visible from our vantage point today and went to rocks/facets. Most other issues seem to be healing. </p> <p>Snowpack has not been as overloaded on Plateau as in Central Wasatch, but weak snow still exists in sheltered NW through NE aspects</p>
widespread wind damage apparent, multiple cornice drops on E facing summit ridgelines, small pockets pulling out but not that big. Snow slowly getting deeper and stronger, last couple of storms have not had enough loading to trigger new widespread activity, Skiing was still very good, conditions improved as you descended out of wind damaged territory. Still very suspicious of steep terrain, pockety cover, rocks showing in stripped areas with obvious wind pillows, crossloading, you name it everywhere. If you went looking for trouble, you will likely find it.