by Jacob Urban | Dec 7, 2019 | JHOLI, Snowpack Update
Today we went back out to the Togwotee Pass area in an effort to trend the characteristics of the facet layer that was created during and extended window of high pressure in November. While we expected to get lower test scores than last week, we had no expectations...
by Jacob Urban | Dec 1, 2019 | Enhance Your Backcountry, Snowpack Update
Understanding What’s Under Our Skis & How to Manage the Risks Associated With It As hard as it may be to believe, ski season in the backcountry is not really here yet. What I mean, is while the snow is piling up in the backcountry the early season hazards...
by Jacob Urban | Dec 2, 2018 | Snowpack Update
During our tour in the Breccia Peak Area near Togwotee Pass today we traveled through primary easterly terrain above 10,000′. During this time we found strong evidence of weak snowpack structure. We observed this through several mediums: 1. Whomphing and...
by Jacob Urban | Nov 25, 2018 | Snowpack Update
I think the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center said it best, “In these conditions expert snowpack stability skills may not suffice. The answer is smart terrain choices. Stick to green light terrain.” When you have natural activity, remote triggers, whoomphing...
by Jacob Urban | Nov 21, 2018 | Enhance Your Backcountry, Snowpack Update
The quality of preseason skiing conditions in Tetons and Togwotee Pass areas varied greatly depending on aspect, elevation, slope angle, exposure to wind and one’s willingness to explore. North facing terrain in the Tetons above 9,000′ served the best...
by Jacob Urban | Dec 27, 2017 | Enhance Your Backcountry, Snowpack Update
Snowpack tests are commonly misapplied to the process of decison-making. Pits while helpful in understanding trends in the snowpack are often less reliable when using them as a single point of reference. Their reliability and ease of interpretation increases when...