Pit Digging at Alta Tomorrow 11-16

Just moved out here with a buddy and looking to gain some experience in the backcountry this season. We just received our avy gear (beacon, probe, shovel) but our skins and touring bindings haven't arrived yet so we're bootpacking wherever we go.

The thinking is to get out tomorrow and play around in the snow and dig some pits. I've been reading "How to Survive in Avalanche Terrain" and just want to see what I've been reading about in person.

Any suggestions on where at Alta we might see some interesting snow layers without being in a bad spot for avy rookies?

Go right here ('+' marks the spot for your pit):

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=...RG&size=l&s=50

Park at the uppermost lot, you can probably just head up Grizzly Gulch on the road this time of year (there will be a skin track). Otherwise Andrew has pointed out a safer route:

http://www.helifreewasatch.com/tours...tsy_Marley.pdf

"STAY OUT OF THIS GULLY! It is the definition of a terrain trap and has no escape aside from the bottom and top."

Enjoy!

Some of the upper reaches of Ballroom at Alta, that haven't been skied would work.

Best bet is to skin up to the top of Collins and head over to the bottom of Sugarloaf, above Cecret Lake. That hasn't been trompled by skiers.

Exit back the way you came. Albion is devoid of snow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trackhead

Albion is devoid of snow.

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Sorry for the misdirection Jaltman, you'd probably be bootin' it most way up to TLP...not enough snow now. TH spends more time up there than I do (although there may be a few turns to be had on the N. side of Patsy).

As we have no skins yet, we're bootpacking either way we go.

TH, do you think there will be any snow to dig in on the North side of Patsy? It certainly seems like an easier boot in than going up to the top of Ballroom plus I've never been in there before.

What is TLP? Twin Lakes?

If we don't get any turns in, so be it, but i'm planning on bringing my boards just in case.

def. go to ballroom
More representive of a true north that's shaded.

You can see what 3 weeks of rotting snow looks like.

Jaltman, I hope it goes without saying, but make sure you reading the avy reports. It's useful to have an idea of what you'll find before you start digging and it's a nice feeling when you confirm something you read that morning. Even though I left SLC, I still have the UAC forecast emailed to me daily as it's a good read. One of the recent ones had a picture of the miserable shit you guys are calling a snowpack this season. Looks like you'll have lots of cool stuff to do tests on...

PS TLP is Twin Lakes Pass, between Grizzly and Twin Lakes.