Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Cracking, Collapsing, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3139 m
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure on all slopes that had snow before the event and that included even ESE, SE and WSW aspects at upper elevations. All other aspects on the upper half of the compass were housing up to at least 25 cm of advanced facets. Of note, it appeared that all natural activity observed today ran above the deteriorating .5cm m/f crust that could be found at around 22 cm up from the ground. Widespread collapsing with shooting cracks were observed on all aspects besides due south at upper elevations; and where the many natural storm triggered avalanches occurred "spider-webbing" stress cracks were shooting onto slopes with 20 to 25 degree adjacent slopes. See avalanche observation for the widespread activity noted there. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See avalanche observation with snow pit details depicting poor structure noted. Did not hang it out too far to try and trigger any new avalanches today in areas that had not slid during the storm; and as a result did not remotely trigger any slides today. </p> <p>Rapid rising of temperatures today came up at least 25 degrees and there may have been some wet loose observed in the mid afternoon hours. Of note, with daytime highs forecast for upper 30's, and clear skies at 9,000 feet on Monday, wet loose may be an issue on steep southerly facing slopes.</p>
Dense early to mid storm snow topped off with 10 cm of lighter density stellars mixed with a little graupel allowed for incredible riding conditions on all aspects except in the exposed upper elevation wind effected terrain. By 1100 hours due south aspects with slope angles greater than 25 degrees got damp and subsequently got a m/f crust. Wind scouring and sculpting observed on WNW and W upper elevation exposed terrain. Trail breaking very easy as the based up great riding conditions were equally supportable for traveling uphill.