Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Matt Vookman
Observation Date:
December 22, 2020
Submitted:
December 22, 2020
Zone or Region:
West South
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Bullion Basin/Union Creek

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Skied up into Bullion Basin and several runs down into Union Creek off Bullion Peak. We took a cautious approach skinning over the ~E/W ridge in tricky and firm skinning conditions. Bullion Basin proper was heavily wind affected. The main N facing bowl/run had signs of cross loading so we avoided. See picture. Dug a hasty pit around 6k on SE facing slope before skiing into Union Creek drainage. Did not observe instability between new snow (4-8”) and rain event layer from last weekend on this aspect. Careful tree skiing down the same SE slopes did not show signs of instability either, including small rollover test slopes. Tricky skiing back through steep icy trees on W slope to get back into basin. Small pockets of soft wind slab observed at ridge line on West aspect entering back into Bullion basin.

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