Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2591 m
Had a plan to ski 30-35 degree East slopes from Millvue peak back into Lambs canyon.
Saw evidence of ground facets bottom 10" almost entire tour up.
Dug a pit at 9500 E/NE facing, approximately 20' below the ridge on a 27 degree slope looking into Lambs. Snowpack/slab failed to the ground upon isolating the column with fairly intense release, even while trying to be careful. Snow Depth was descent for 8500 E facing with 135 cm.
After failure, continued to test the remaining block of snow. Had another failure ECTP 13 on top 10-12" of snow likely on melt/freeze layer. Then again ECTP 23 which failed on a weak layer 12" above the ground.
Finally did CT out of curiosity and had results on top 10-12" again at 13 taps. Had seen enough, it became a lower angle heavy tree / bush whack descent from there.
First 1/3 of descent (1k vert) skiing amazingly, 5-6" of loose faceted snow was almost pow like but much faster with a super supportive base.
I feel most terrain would have been safe to ski, but as Utavy has warned us, if you trigger that deep PWL it is game over. After seeing that in person, i had to pass for today.
Be safe out there.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>ground level facets still lurk far below the surface and caused failure during column isolation </p> <p> </p> <p>lower elevations <7500 had significant surface hoar that may be future issue</p> <p>most of the snow pack was connected, with some wind loaded snow higher up on E/NE aspect we skied</p>