Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3048 m
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Today’s tour focused on high-elevation ridgelines and familiar terrain. Despite a combined 80 years of local experience between my partner and I, we witnessed a breach of mountain safety protocol and terrain management that was truly unprecedented.</p> <p>Observations & Instability: While breaking trail below The Sneak on the North side after skiing SM we experienced two localized collapses. Although we were on a low-angle ascent protected by timber, the feedback was clear. As we gained elevation toward the ridge, we triggered two more significant, wide-travelling collapses (whumpfs) approximately 100 vertical feet below the crest, near the final switchback where the pitch mellows. The snowpack is clearly communicating high sensitivity and poor structure.</p> <p>Summary: Instability noted on North aspects. Dangerous travel choices observed in West Monitor.</p>