Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We experienced many collapses while touring today. Neither the collapses, nor stomping baby cornices, nor ski cuts yielded any avalanches. Saw a little cracking, but heard and felt 15 more "wumphs" that'd didn't leave evidence behind. Even in relatively sheltered areas well below ridgelines, collapses were easy to produce. Though noisy, the new snow seemed reluctant to move, although we did observe a skier-triggered avalanche from across the valley. </p>
Looking at cracks created in fresh windslab along the ridgeline
Snowpack
Winds last night destroyed most of the 6%-density blower that fell yesterday. It was preserved about a foot down, but capped by a cakey layer. "Upsidedown" and "surfy" were the catchphrases of the day. Mid-elevation, mellow-angle, wind sheltered runs that also have an old snow base were probably the place to be today, but that's a small bullseye to hit. Upper elevation glades and open slopes were wind-worked and variable ski penetration made for herky-jerky skiing on the most wind-blasted slopes. Early rise tips and fatish skis didnt keep us from getting corked in a few drifts.