Quick report
- Aspect
- West
- Elevation
- 2530 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No real red flags today. Facets that were observed in pits on N and W aspects were chained and based on some stability testing do not appear to be much of an issue. I think this is due to the warm weather that occurred this season at these elevations (8,300 to 8,500). Photos below.</p>
HS-24" Gloves are sitting on crusts. The lower is melt/freeze and the upper wind/warm. Basal facets below the lower crust are chained (photo below). ECTN in this area. I was able to only collapse the area where the force was applied until in compressed to the ground, similar to the photo in my 2nd pit.
Photos:
1 Terrain
2. Chained facets.
An additional pit on a north aspect in upper Copleys Canyon. HS-28".
Photos:
1. Pit showing the same crusts as in snow profile. Of note there is a knife+ hard crust sitting on the ground. Above this crust are chained facets sitting below the melt/freeze crust.
2. Chained facets.
3. ECTN
4. Terrain photo, The only reason I did not ski this area was I ran out of time after a rather long approach.
Photo below: Typical west facing terrain in Mountain Sheep Canyon. Still a thin snow pack and early season conditions.
Overall, I did not see any sign of wind affect that I saw 2,000+ feet higher yesterday in the Tushers, I would say moderate hazard mainly because of the facets which appear to be healing but still are not that far below the surface.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Normal caution for traveling in a thin snow pack.</p> <p>Moderate hazard, due to the presence of above described facets in low density areas below denser snow. Not a right side up profile.</p>
HST = 8-12", settled in this area. Mostly sitting on a crust that made for easy travel. Well bonded to the crust.