Unaffiliated / Individual

Avi 1 field day 1 Vista Butte

Selected site in a large wind pillow along the treeline where skiers would be tempted to travel. A small storm with light precipitation and moderate northwesterly winds had just set in as we picked our site. Winds were blowing perpendicular to the slope. Observed layers in the upper 10 cm were thin and numerous, like a deli sandwich, indicating continuous wind loading from the same direction (cross-loading).

Easy skinning out to the saddle. Selected site on leeward side of the saddle where slope angle was representative of steepest terrain and similar aspect. Snow surface was smooth, no signs of wind scour or surface faceting.