Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Pockets of stout, pencil+ hard wind slabs on leeward E/NE aspects.</p>
Winds the past several days have created challenging traveling and riding conditions. Many windward ridgelines have been stripped bare of snow, with sastrugi and stout wind slabs left behind on the lee aspects. Although these wind slabs were unresponsive to stability tests today, I would not be surprised to find a sensitive pocket where a shallow slab (10-15 cms/4-6") could break out. These would generally be on aspects facing north through east at the mid and upper elevations.
Photos illustrating:
- structure of stout wind slab over loose, facets;
- windward south/southwest aspects stipped bare of snow;
- the current snow surface at many low and mid elevations.
Hazard is generally Low, except at the mid and upper elevations on leeward aspects where a stout, pocket of wind-drifted snow could be responsive.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Sustained westerly winds have created pockets of hard wind slabs at the mid and upper elevations. Where we were looking today, we were finding these stout wind slabs were deposited on top of weak, faceted snow underneath. Although the wind slabs were stubborn and only cracking around our skis, I'm always suspicious when we put a slab of stronger snow on top of a persistent weak layer.</p> <p> </p> <p>Video below shows the structure of a stout wind slab on top of weaker, faceted snow.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
The snow surface is mostly wind-affected, though damp at low, wind-protected elevations.