Date of Observation: 03/01/2022
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Carbon via Splain’s Gulch. 9,200-12,000 ft. NW & NE aspects. Traveled on slopes at or below 30 degrees.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A few very small snowcat, skier and snow machine-triggered pockets along the road cut in Splain’s.
Weather: Calm, clear and balmy!
Snowpack: Lots of collapsing, including a few that felt more like small earthquakes. Most of the activity was in or around forested terrain, but there was one big one on an open, more alpine slope (25 degree) near treeline that sent cracks rocketing out toward the steeper terrain to the west of me. Widespread surface hoar on open slopes to about 10,600 feet. Solar aspects were super mushy later in the day. Had to wax my skins four times and scrape my bases three times. I despise gloppy snow! Snow quality on north aspects was fabulous. Skating on the groomed roads was all-time!
