Quick report
- Red Flags
- Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Natural sloughing and pinwheels on aspects receiving sun. Small sloughs at lower elevations not running far but the snow was very heavy and wet. Lots of the upper elevation terrain showing signs of strong winds during and closely after our most recent storm leaving hard wind slabs in certain areas. Did not observe any recent avalanches even in upper elevations. Seems like the snow is holding on well but with the persistent weak layer issue were seeing scattered across the Wasatch, it's hard to justify pushing your slope angles much. Did not have time to dig any pits but the snowpack was shallow and the weak layer near the ground was easy to feel with simple pole probing. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The steeper slopes sheltered from the sun are absolutely begging for a rider. Could be great, could be bad news. Pretty hard to say at this point but with the sizes of the slides we've been seeing lately, this has got to be the scariest and most dangerous issue.</p> <p>The snow is not running very easily but is very heavy at lower to mid elevations and on a slope steep enough, it could play a role. Keep in mind rocks below and terrain traps where a small accident could be a big deal. </p>
With the increasing temperatures were seeing, the snow has been forming soft rime crusts even on slopes sheltered from the sun. Still decent riding in the right spots at upper elevations and found some powder pockets below the Obelisk. The Rime was not hard to ride at all on NW to NE facing terrain and still made for some fun turns. Damp snow below 8500' and melt freeze crusts on sunny aspects.