Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>More cracking and small windslab pockets today. Didn't spend much time above 9000' where I would expect higher hazard. </p>
A small windslab pocket on a test slope around 8900', cracked out but didn't run much. 4th photo, rime on the trees at 9300'.
Below, there were a couple slides from yesterday in Hells, seen from below. Not sure if these were natural, or someone triggered them. Deposition looked about 3 feet deep. The possibility of being carried into rocks or trees by a small/medium slide like this is a significant concern.
A number of interesting control results in the upper Mt Ogden bowl today. This area is considered out of bounds these days. While its somewhat controlled, the extreme nature of the terrain calls for a backcountry level of awareness in here. A number of windslab pockets have been skier-triggered in this area this year, and it would not surprise me to see more slab pockets come out the next time access is allowed in this area.
The Moderate rating is for the terrain travelled, primarily below 9000', avoiding exposed steeper lines.
Snowpack
Sun and wind sheltered slopes were the best, as expected. The same slope I mentioned triggering an 8-12" slab pocket on yesterday, 9300' NW, was completely filled back in, and wind-scoured. Seems to have been some rime in the upper elevation wind as well, since the trees were rimed again.