Ebbetts Pass

Several experienced riders made it before us to "The Abyss" on HWY 4 (the mandatory sidehill through steep terrain just before the flats near Kinney Reservoir). More than one lost the sidehill and got sucked down several hundred feet into Silver Creek, and nobody made it via the standard route along the road. One rider was injured but was able to self evac. The wind slabs along The Abyss were simply too firm for safe sidehilling. It will take a group some time with shovels to make this route passable again.

We found an alternative route to 8200ft, but conditions were terrible so we turned back. We experienced either punchy or firm wind slabs above 7500ft, or wet snow below. At our turnaround point, the snow had become so firm that runaway sleds were a real concern.

Wind loaded test slopes proved challenging to ride due to their firmness, but they did fail when first undercut. Fractures were generally shallow, at 6-12" from the surface. ECTs on wind loaded slopes propagated at similar depths.

We saw one crown on Silver Peak that appeared aged. We also saw roller ball activity on all aspects below 7500ft.

Very firm wind slabs encountered on exposed terrain, wet surface snow on all aspects below 7500ft, and roller balls even on shaded slopes