Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Cracking, Collapsing, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>As previously mentioned the sun was heating things up quick. We observed some D1 wet loose activity from this morning on E facing slopes around 9000'. As far as the rest of the snowpack is concerned everything N-E is entirely faceted out to the point that your entire pole will easily punch through to the ground. We observed some cracking and collapsing in the afternoon on a NE facing slope above 9000' as the upper 4-6 inches of the snowpack warmed forming a somewhat more cohesive slab atop these facets. The structure is poor, but currently lacks any sort of a slab to be to concerning. </p>
Below is a photo of one of the wet loose avalanches we observed on an E facing slope. We expect this slide was triggered this morning by warming snow falling off the rocks above.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wet loose was certainly the number 1 problem today with multiple D1 wet loose avalanches observed. These avalanches were small and not far running, although one ran into some trees showing how a small avalanche could still have consequence. </p> <p>Widespread faceting on the N half of the compass will become a problem when/if it snows again and we develop a slab atop. We triggered some small facet sluffs in steep N facing terrain, however these would only be a problem in extreme terrain. </p>
We encountered damp, sticky snow on nearly all aspects, where we traveled today, which was between 7800' and just above 9000'. The only place we were able to find cold snow after today's warm temps and strong sun was on steep N facing above 8500'.