Observation: Guardsman Pass area

On our up-slope travel just above road, we experienced quite a bit of settlement. We did not get 100’ above the road into an open area before we decided to turn around. Cracks and settlement combined to make an easy decision to exit area. We left the road just upslope above the last major switchback on Guardsman’s road and quickly went from SW-W-NW @ 9300’ 35-40 degrees; total distance between snow pits maybe 100 feet apart. Quite drastic difference between aspects. SW pit showed facets about 14” deep, 4F snow for 8", 1F snow for 4”, 4F snow for 4” (surface snow). Q2 ECTP 17 on the facet/storm slab interface. However, it was easy to isolate the slab between the 4F-1F snow about 6” down. We held a 2’X3’ section without it breaking that was pretty heavy (maybe a wind slab?). NW pit showed 16” facets and 18” 4F snow. Q2 ECTP 8 on the facet storm slab interface. Significant settling and cracking at the NW pit location. Pretty large circumference of cracking; maybe 30’ radius. While leaving the area on the NW aspect, T caused major settlement on the first turn. Noticeable settlement...B and I dropped 2”! T did not even experience settlement while descending. Very cool and very scary feeling all at the same time. Accurate observation by UAC.org

The snow was stiff. Not quite ‘catchy’ like 'wet catchy', but required a bit more effort to make turns. Skis needed a cold weather wax to move. Lots of shuffling to try and gain speed/distance on the flatter sections. USA Bowl had marginal snow, requiring us to stay lower in the aspens. It was hard to find enough steepness to ride the deepness (and not experience any avy danger).