Observation: East Fork Bear

I was often collapsing 1000 sq feet or more below 9500'

Today I journeyed to the East Fork of the Bear River hoping to ski due south of the Cathedral. After a couple of close encounters between snowmobile and river I conceded the fight. My consolation prize was a point at about 10,500 in the vicinity of the Boundary Creek yurt on a North/Northwest aspect.

Below 9500’ the snowpack reminded me of Anna Wintour: thin and mean. Barely covering the deadfall and stumps, I couldn’t decide what snow was worse - 100% sugar or 90% sugar, 10% trapdoor buried crust. At least all the whoomphs and wide collapses (photo) gave me something else to think about.

Above 9500’, in the wind zone oddly enough, one could easily be fooled into thinking the party was finally happening. I found about 10” of silky dry snow below a wafer-thin wind crust, sitting atop a dense slab from our last NW wind event. With all that body and bounce the low-angle terrain skied beautifully. Unfortunately, the whole thing is clearly sitting on some well protected weak layers and the surface facets are sparkling anyplace that’s protected. Note to self: almost any appreciable added water or wind is going to make this a very tricky place to operate indeed.