4th Avalanche Course of the Season

David Lottmann Avalanche Courses, Backcountry Skiing,

Another weekend, another avalanche course, but not the same conditions as the last course! Shallow snowpacks and prolonged cold led to some “Continental” type conditions during our Observational Outing on Day 2, and a blue bird day on our Ski Tour on Day 3 yielded a deep faceting snowpack with a lot of fellow backcountry travelers to watch and learn from.

Bluebird day in the ravine
Ho Jo’s porch
USFS Snow Ranger Jeff Lane discusses some of the current stability issues with the group
The Chute looks enticing
Recent wind loading was evident from the last weather event
Sluice and Right Gully seeing a lot of traffic
Kicking steps up towards the Chute
John’s first backcountry day (on skis)
Changing fall line
Another avalanche course poking in the snow near right gully

We conducted a quick Hand Shear test before crossing under the Chute:

John isolating a column to conduct a Compression Test
Descending from the near the mouth of the Chute
Clouds move in as we depart

Great conditions right now to take an avalanche course, so check out this link for details:

http://www.emsclimb.com/aiare1.html

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