Quick report
- Red Flags
- Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Very poor structure exists on upper elevation W-NW-N-NE-E slopes. Some slopes are hanging in the balance. I observed cracking (a sort of stress crack, where the slope would have slid if it had been a touch steeper) on a steep rollover section in a VERY popular backcountry area right outside of Alta. When we returned to this same location after a lap or two, there were a few more cracks in the slope, which is when I took the picture below. Definitely hanging in the balance. </p> <p>Seems like if the snowpack is the wild card right now, we can't cheat the slightest bit on our terrain choices - backcountry travel practices are super important.</p>
Photo of slope that had these stress cracks in it. This is the second time looking at it, when it had more cracks than the first time.
Wind effects on 10k foot ridgelines.
P.S. Loved that you pointed out Considerable danger for the human factor stuff on today's report. Keep it up.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>It's still there. Not much else to say. Maybe terrain that is more exposed to wind effects is actually safer than sheltered slopes?</p> <p>Evidence of plenty of wind effect today, so I would imagine that there are pillows out there that could be triggered by a person.</p>
Soft settled snow on NW through E aspects. Sun crust that softened throughout the day on the S. We rode low angle (<33 degrees) NE and E slopes, and the snow was supportable and bouncy. Recent winds had filled in many tracks on these aspects, creating even better riding conditions.