Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
Went for the long walk from Mill D to the Nipple in Butler Fork. Skin trail only went to the Toms Hill turn off and stayed that way all day. Did not note any natural avalanche activity on Reynolds face, Wilson Chutes, or in upper Butler Basin, might have seen some activity in Broads Fork but not positive. Only activity noted was natural sluffing in steep NE facing Butler Basin. I thought Greg’s considerable call was on point, new snow, high winds and poor snow-pack structure are not a good mix and it was good to see people being patient and letting things settle out before punching the big lines. I don’t think there was enough of a load to produce avalanches into old snow but I could see there being exceptions in the high, rocky wind-loaded N. I did see some activity from yesterday in the new snow only, looked to be on a density inversion.
photos: new cornices on SE facing and new snow instabilities from yesterday
Snowpack
8 to 10 inches of new, stelars with some graupel mixed in, right side up and good skiing.