HS aprox. 28". Glove is sitting on crust. Storm snow from this week above glove. Facets at base look like they may have undergone some melt/freeze (poor photo 1 below). ECTN, photo 2 below, column just collapsed. Photo 3 below is terran, pit is in upper meadow above large tree.
AS I mentioned above, I found 1 limited area with potential red flags. Photos below:
1. Results of ECTP 8, Q1/2. Gloves on Failure plane.
2. Poor photo of potential surface hoar.
3. Area of tests near ridge.
4. Pit profile, HS approx. 28"
This area was near the ridge and had undergone some wind loading, the surface hoar is hard to explain in this area considering I did not see it anywhere else.
Photos Below:
1. Upper Dry Creek and Mine Camp Peak in the background right White Pine Peak on left side of background.
2. Busy day on my approach! The horse guy actually broke about a mile of my trail, much appreciated. They were out looking for kitty cats....
Overall the danger is hard to decide. Based on what I saw on the ridge, there are definitely areas of considerable. However most of the terran I traveled through today falls into the moderate range. I would say Moderate with the exception of areas contain wind loaded snow and/or buried surface hoar.
If anyone wants to get in touch with me about snow/avalanche questions in SW Utah, I can be reached at [email protected]. I would be happy to walk anyone through the observation process. All observations are appreciated.
A tangent:
Like many skiers my age, the passing of Warren Miller is a sad one. I went from being the kid in the Hunter Mountain pile-ups and rope-tow disasters to being Utah’s premier and perhaps most in-famous snow and avalanche observer, all the time remembering the inspiration I got from his movies as a kid. Anyone from a beginner riding the magic carpet with a Gopro to the folks at TGR, and those of us who watch ski movies, owes him a debt of gratitude, he is the OG. Instead of mourning I plan on celebrating, hopefully he is wherever dead skiers go skiing some deep powder with Dick Barrymore…….
Photos below:
1. Wine, Women and Skis, perhaps the first book on ski bumming, my copy is signed, I got lucky at DI!
2. For Warren, a true OG, RIP in peace (as in rip a few turns...)
