Quick report
- Aspect
- West
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2896 m
- Slope Angle
- 38°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Numerous small storm slab releases noted during travels. This instability seemed to have settled out by late morning. One noteworthy repeater mid slope on Two Dogs in Upper Days Fork. Minimal sluffing observed only on slopes approaching 40 degrees. </p>
Quick snow pit on upper Benson and Hedges apron after noting a shallow HS 70-80cm while ascending. West/Southwest micro aspect directly below the couloir: HS: 70cm ECT 17 Q1 Sudden Planar, Energetic failure at 1-3mm basal facets that were very striated and easily identified with the naked eye. Hadn't observed such a quality planar failure with any ECT/CT during my recent travels around the Central Wasatch. Not sure what explains the abnormally low HS is this area... Did it all flush early during the Christmas storm cycle and/or get scoured by the recent southerly winds? Consistent slab hardness trend from Fist to 4F/1F on top of 5 cm of basal facets.
Route: Flagstaff shoulder, descending Hallway. Benson and Hedges apron to powerline, descending Cardiff Bowl. The Hallway had very little snow and appears to have avalanched repeatedly starting during the Christmas cycle. I wouldn't recommend it now or after it receives a significant load.
Snowpack
Nice right side up accumulation of the past week's snow skied well. Only felt bottom occasionally on southerly aspects