Wasatch Conditions 09-10

[Mark H]

Some shots from the Alta lot:

Thought this was an interesting choice this morning...


It didn't even look remotely fun on their way down...

You're right. I hated every one of those fluffy turns. Hated it.

[truth]

You're right. I hated every one of those fluffy turns. Hated it.

Was that your epic ski cut across the slope or were you one of the guys hacking your way back down the skin track?

[ectreeskier11]

hahaah, did anyone else notice the tracks down suicide 2+ weeks ago? probably someone here anyway...

[Mark H]

Was that your epic ski cut across the slope or were you one of the guys hacking your way back down the skin track?

mmmm yes, my crew fell way behind so I had to cut over and see what was wrong with them. As for why they chose to figure 8 the skin track......God only knows. It was my first time skiing with them, and could be the last.

[salida]

Definite sun crust forming. Will probably be the next danger to be concerned about. Things seem to have settled a bit. N facing trees, 10K, held un-crusted snow, and minimal open space to let things run.

[Long Duck Dong]

Wanted to ski north facing shots in Cardiff Fork today, and perhaps access Mineral over Cardiac, but backed off due to sketchy natural avy activity in area and lots of cracking snow. Was surprised to see so few tracks anywhere back there (little sup, cardiff, cardiac, etc). East facing slopes on Cardiac looked wind loaded and ugly anyway. North facing stuff looks like the only thing worth skiing right now, but man our snowpack is fouled up. Time to go on vacation.

Pics are all from the north facing ridge right over powerline pass. Maybe 10k feet?

[Trackhead]

As of 10am this morning.........

[DeeAre]

As of 10am this morning.........

Usually just an interested observer of the Wasatch thread. But I have to speak up & nominate these two goons for Darwin awards. I guess at least they're taking the road instead of heading straight up the gulch

[PROVO]

^^^^ you guys are just behind the trend. everyone knows that snowshoeing in ski boots is teh hotness!

[byates1]

As of 10am this morning.........

^ wow.. i hate people...

on the other hand, i was a moron once too, hell, still am, just more jaded and irritated by the world

i'll be out in a few weeks, look you up, i want to travel out of the sheep pen, and use it only for rest ski days. want spanish fork peak, provo canyon, timp, nebo, where ever etc, will ping you in a couple weeks.

[SkiFreeor...]

I don't see the problem. I always strap my snowshoes on right under my bindings and walk, it gets great traction!

[Subluxation]

Originally Posted by Trackhead
As of 10am this morning.........
I Love it!

[Trackhead]

4-7" of light lipstick on a stinky hog. Better than nothing.

[skifishbum]

Headed up Argenta w/ super freak powderpond for a few laps in the upper headwall most had which naturaled. Pit results vaiable but overall good stablity of 18-24" of 4 finger on variable avvy bed surfaces topped by 6" or so of new snow and ~12"of ground facets below. Hasty pits down lower sheared easier and cleaner. Occasional collapseing and whomphing noted on ascent along trees on the side of the slidepath. Upper headwall and James Bond fun gullies skied great although bony.
Lower slidepath = Coreshot inducing goretex ripping bushwhacking builder of character at least for my out of shape chicken legs,
definately in need of some more coverage below 9k.
Can't find my camera usb cable to download pics.

[Trackhead]

Found fun, fast snow at upper elevations on N to NW aspects. One collapse while skinning up high near some brush/trees. Some wind loading and cross loading from prior. Calm, clear, cold day.

[marauders]

That's a great one! Cold smoke indeed.

[yemntftb]

Was up in rocky point christmas day...snow was ok in spots not destroyed by the wind. Obvious avy debris from slides from the past storm cycle. Slopes seemed to have settled a lot as our snow tests didn't find any spots failing, however there is about 12inches of huge facets at the bottom of the pack

Had a run in with two beaters skiing back there without gear, couple of old punks who thought they could ski back there because they'd been doing it for 30 years...sweet. After they gave us shit for asking them if they were lost, they both proceeded to fall two or three times down the run while we sat digging our snow pits...still blows my mind that even with all the dangers people still believe they can shit without beacons, shovels, probes, etc...especially with the snow pack we have out there now.

[skifishbum]

Not to many sheep out in the pen Xmass day Must have been home resting in the manger
This carpetbagger brought eggnog a lot of eggnog.

Upper Days skiing well
The Mrs.

Toph

Lower bannana or draw not ready.
Disapointed no one @ UAC could do the xmass forcast in verse. Should just retire that tradition with TK as he was the one that made that happen.

[Trackhead]

Disapointed no one @ UAC could do the xmass forcast in verse. Should just retire that tradition with TK as he was the one that made that happen.

Agreed. Always looked forward to that.

[Trackhead]

NW upper aspects are variable.


The couloirs have water ice, neve, and otherwise firm conditions. Be careful, think before you make the next turn.


No collapsing or other instabilities to speak of on our tour in Red Pine, Hogum, Maybird.

[nieveparasiempre]

Nice TH. Is this the Pfeif?

[Trackhead]

Nice TH. Is this the Pfeif?

Yes........

[nieveparasiempre]

Yes........

well done. looks THIN

[TeleThor]

Took a little leg stretcher this morning and skied some N-facing LCC trees, 7500ish to 9500ish. Found nice dry and fast, but very settled snow that made for decent turning. Also found some shrubbery to bushwack through. A little bit of sluffing in the top few inches from the previous storm, but no other instabilities. It was snowing most of the time, but as of about noon, no noticeable accumulation.

[TeleThor]

BCC, N, NW and W-facing mostly, with just a smidge of SW-facing. 7200 to 9200 ft. 6"+ in the lot at 8:45 AM. Dumped all morning. N and NW held new snow on top of the snow from the previous storm, which had stayed dry, resulting in 12-16" of the good stuff. W was mostly good, but found an occasional crust underneath the new snow. SW had a stouter crust under the new snow, about 1-2 inches thick, but breakable. On these slopes one could get some of the storm snow to sluff, and near the ridgeline we observed the start of a very soft wind slab.

Skiing was quite good.