Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 2560 m
- Slope Angle
- 11°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>While not noted in our location, significant wind loading and whumpfing was noted for others in areas near ours. </p>
Our pit profile was dug just outside the resort boundary in the Bobcat Ridge area. In this area the snowpack looked great and certainly indicated an improving trend. Our compression test did show a break on the last hit (CTH30), but this result was not replicated on our ECT (ECTX).
Social media displayed a number of folks stepping into steeper terrain. While there don't seem to have been any avalanches accidents, I think that Mark White's post indicates that the danger isn't gone and thoughts about steeper terrain should be done with heavy consideration. It's mid-December, and the season is young. I think folks are getting antsy after last year's bad season. I'm encouraging my friends to take their time and not get rushed into anything. The steep stuff will be there. We are just getting started.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind slabs were noted in nearby locations and were the main problem for consideration on the day. We did not see any indication of wind transport in our area of travel, but this is largely due to forested protection on many aspects adjacent to our location. Problem could potentially increase with winds from the incoming, but weak system. </p> <p>There are still facets lurking in the snow from the early season. While these appear to be healing in many locations, skiing the wrong slope at the right time can still be rewarded with trouble. Low probability, high consequence. </p>
Skiing was decent on settled and dense surface snow. Grabby in times where sun has effected the surface layer.