Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2926 m
- Slope Angle
- 33°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Recent avalanches include a cornice fall on top of Toots to Boot, 8-12' thick slab but it only ran 10-15 feet or so. I released on minor 4" thick wind slab (10' wide) on 2nd run in Yellow Jacket, didn't run far, I would call this more of a cracking episode than an avalanche, minor. Wind was transporting snow from about 12 pm on. Poor snow pack structure included some really weak facets in Yellow Jacket, see profile below. ECTP 10, changed our travel plans for the day.</p>
Photo of pit below, of note are really loose basal facets and strong 2-finger mid pack. I like the strength of the mid pack but feel there are plenty opportunities for booby traps lurking. I really don't feel good until I see 4-5 feet above basal facets.
Snow pack in this area is not that different than I have been seeing in SW Utah the last couple of weeks. Not used to seeing people in the woods and a lot less cougar tracks!
Overall danger, I would say moderate based on what I saw today but would anticipate considerable tomorrow.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind slabs from increasing wind today, I would expect that the likelihood will increase with forecasted storm winds and dense snow.</p> <p>Moderate hazard increasing to considerable if winds blow strong overnight.</p> <p>I was surprised how the ECTP 10 "popped" really easily, Not calling it a Q1 due to the rough non-planer break. The mid pack is strong but not as thick as I would prefer in this area.</p> <p>Low to Moderate likelihood with the potential for considerable consequences (moderate X ?). We dug the pit on our 2nd run and were glad we avoided some of the steeper open meadows on our initial ascent.</p>
4" new sitting on a variety of surfaces ranging from facets to crust. Some sluffing on aspects >35 degrees.nothing major. sluffing occurring mostly over wind board and facets.