Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We ascended the ridge above Dog Lake to Pioneer Peak and noted several small pockets that cracked between switchbacks. While we generally stuck to low angle slopes on our descent into Snake Creek, we noticed some cracking extending as far as 30 feet from tracks.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>While generally not very deep and very soft, the wind slabs that we encountered could present a problem in the right terrain. In steeper terrain above Dog Lake, we noted several soft slides that eventually piled up relatively deep. These were only about 4-6" deep, however. It sounds like from other observations, Little Cottonwood ended up with a bit more snow.</p>
Several inches of new snow went a long way to cover old crusts. As noted above even small, partial sun breaks quickly affected the snow, causing it to become damp and heavy. This was particular true on south and east aspects in Snake Creek. North facing was still dry (but sensitive) when we exited around noon.