Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>My concern would be to move from the low angle terrain I was skiing to anything steeper than 30 degrees. I don't think you can do a consistent assessment across a slope unless you built a trench across the entire run and did your stability test. The low angle terrain simply had the most consistent conditions. With the variation of snow coverage, I think you are shooting craps on any moderately steep terrain.</p>
Snowpack
The snow pack I tested all over the Desolation Lake, Square Top Backside, Powder Park and the Park City ridge line toward Roscoe's was almost 18 inches deep throughout the area. The main concern was a continuation of the weak snow pack. I would be skinning along and my pole would sink down to the grip. You could really see the difference in snow structure when you entered the trees, supportable then you would almost be on the ground pushing through facets. On several occasions, I even was skinning up the ice layer when in wind affected areas. I was skiing very long angle terrain with great conditions. The low angle slopes I skied all had consistent snow. The change can as I skinned near or in the trees. This is normal but the variation was dramatic illustrating our complex snow pack at this time.