Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Shooting cracks breaking in wind loaded micro features on WSW terrain in USA bowl. Yesterday a N facing test slope produced similar cracks but without any new snow, so buried wind slabs may be a concern. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Cracking in fresh wind drifts yesterday was indicative that wind slabs are a concern even without new snow. Recent snowfall and strong winds have created reactive (but not sensitive) wind slabs even on windward terrain.</p> <p>Bo Torrey, Nate and I dug a snowpit on ENE @ 8600 ft in Mill F East Fork. Found a layer of buried surface hoar 30cm down. CT10 SC and ECTP 11 both failing on surface hoar. While reactive, the slab was fist to 4F hardness so stability tests are questionable. I'd be concerned about preserved surface hoar in areas where the wind didn't get to it. </p>
Best skiing was found on mid elevation wind sheltered slopes. Upper elevation slopes on the southern half of the compass were wind effected with good riding on top of a wind skin.