Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
On a guided climb of Matterhorn Peak, on 2/08 we observed light winds and clear skies along our route from 05:00–11:30. Above 9,000 ft, we observed unsupportable wind board overlying sugary facets. Around 12:00, winds increased from light to moderate, with strong gusts transporting old surface facets onto north facing aspects. As we climbed the East Couloir, winds increased from moderate to strong (~13:00), and we observed stout, unreactive wind slabs forming around 11,700 ft. During our descent, active transport and flagging increased, and slab thickness grew from approximately 3cm to 6 cm. At 10,000 ft, we observed cracking, and winds were transporting snow as low as 9,700 ft. HS at 10,000 ft measured 178 cm. At Horse Creek Camp on the night of 2/9, winds were extreme, with gusts up to 65 mph at 8,300 ft.