Hi,
Wondering if there are any (former) patrollers on here who can explain Inbounds Avalanche Danger to me.
This past Monday we skied Alta and Snowbird. Avalanche danger was rated “considerable’ for the Upper Cootnwoods backcountry. Most noted danger was windslab. It continued snowing and blowing very hard all day.
If I had been skiing in the backcountry, i would have avoided any terrain over 30 degrees, since windslabs were likely. I especially would have avoided any wind deposits I noticed.
But inbounds, although some terrain was closed, we skied more than a foot deep new snow, much of it wind deposited. Some of it steeper terrain.
Some terrain was marked “avalanche terrain, enter through gates only”. Other terrain was unmarked.
So how do I decide what terrain to ski or avoid inbounds? When is extra cation warranted? Do we consider that patrol checked this terrain(even the untracked stuff in the trees?) and considered it safe enough? Or am I expected to judge it for myself?
Wondering if there are any (former) patrollers on here who can explain Inbounds Avalanche Danger to me.
This past Monday we skied Alta and Snowbird. Avalanche danger was rated “considerable’ for the Upper Cootnwoods backcountry. Most noted danger was windslab. It continued snowing and blowing very hard all day.
If I had been skiing in the backcountry, i would have avoided any terrain over 30 degrees, since windslabs were likely. I especially would have avoided any wind deposits I noticed.
But inbounds, although some terrain was closed, we skied more than a foot deep new snow, much of it wind deposited. Some of it steeper terrain.
Some terrain was marked “avalanche terrain, enter through gates only”. Other terrain was unmarked.
So how do I decide what terrain to ski or avoid inbounds? When is extra cation warranted? Do we consider that patrol checked this terrain(even the untracked stuff in the trees?) and considered it safe enough? Or am I expected to judge it for myself?