Quick report
Here are a few photos from the day.
1) Stomping on cornices on this small, wind loaded test slope produced a few shallow wind slabs and occasionally sensitive cornices. In the larger, higher consequence terrain, these could be a problem.
2-5) Various photos showing the wind damage at upper elevations. Notice the snow surface texture. The sand-blasted snow is wind eroded snow, which is usually safe and the smooth and rounded snow is wind deposited snow, which can be dangerous if it was recently deposited. It's important to memorize this texture difference. This is one of the first skills you learn in an avalanche class.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>There are still a few minor wind slab problems in the upper elevation, wind exposed terrain but they are mostly settled and not particularly reactive, at least the ones on the test slopes I jumped on above 10,000'. Quite a few people were out and no one seemed to be triggering any of these so I think they are a minor problem.</p> <p>Temperatures are warming and if the wind drops, we may see some more rollerballs and wet, loose avalanches on the steep, sun exposed slopes. This was a relatively minor problem today and, as usual with wet activity, timing is everything. Avoid steep, soggy slopes in the heat of the afternoon.</p> <p>Overall, the danger seemed Low with just some cautions for wind slabs and wet loose avalanches.</p>
The cool temperatures and wind kept the snow surface reasonable with settled, dense, dry snow that rides fast on gentle slopes on northerly facing slopes that are wind sheltered. The upper elevations are quite wind blasted with sastrugi and settled wind slabs. Lower elevations, especially southerly aspects have sun crusts of various flavors and you post hole through the wet corn snow at lower elevations in the heat of the afternoon.