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Salt Lake » Little Cottonwood Canyon » Alta Ski Area » Gunsight

Gunsight - Alta

10,100'

Northeast

Skier

Soft Slab

Wind Drifted Snow

New Snow/Old Snow Interface

6"

20'

Triggered a small wind slab when dropping into Gunsight at Alta this morning. I chose to ski there because I knew some snow from the last storm was still hanging around and hoped it would prevent me from hitting too many rocks. Turns out I still hit many rocks and that old snow did not create a very strong bond to the new snow. Combined with a small amount of wind effect, this created a very reactive, propagating layer of new snow that broke across the rocks to the skiers right of gunsight as soon as I made my first turn and ran the length of the chute, about 500’. My guard is usually completely down at this time of year, so this was a surprise and a good reminder to stay vigilant. Getting carried would probably involve some uncomfortable rock encounters.