Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- isolated
Busy day in the Alpental valley as expected. Snow appeared quite stable for much of the day and in most areas. We saw no signs of instability until we rounded the nose of the bench above the Divide, on the northern aspect of the east shoulder of Chair. Our objective was Cache but we turned around midway across the northern aspect rising traverse (below the cliff band) when we popped loose a small ~8” slab while skinning (@4750’). It failed on a hard crust (1/4?) but didn’t propagate or slide all that far. High consequence terrain below us meant a retreat back to the Divide for cruiser turns down to the lake. Bryant couloir and Great Scott bowl appeared to be filling in nicely from across the way. Travel in the lower valley is v much improved!