Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Snow pack is still hollow in places but overall much stronger than last time I was in the area. I was still able to punch my pole down into facets while walking up to the spire (HS 130 cm, facets at the basal 15 cm).</p> <p>Some sluffing on steeper aspects in the mid-elevations during my exit (E and NE facing), minor</p> <p>Danger generally felt low, pockety wind slabs/crusts did not appear reactive and seemed to be lacking energy. Traveling was better than the skiing up high, as evidenced by us getting to the top without a single kick turn on the skintrack (photo), down tracks not worth a photograph.</p>
Photos:
1. Wind hammered snow in the alpine, good training for my partner who is considering moving to Colorado!
2. Surface Hoar on Summit Ridge @10,800';
3. A lesson in avoiding kick turns on the skin track.
Much of the alpine in this area looks very thin for this time of year
I think I am ready to say low danger (perhaps with a few pockets of moderate). This mornings forecast was dead-on.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Generally low danger</p> <p>Generally low danger, snow pack seemed stronger than expected in this area.</p>
1" may be generous. Mostly Graupel.
Underlaying snow surface very variable. In the alpine a combination of knife hard thin (1-3" thick) hollow wind slabs to weak recrystalized wind-worked snow (photo)
Protected areas. Snow is denser than expected, I was assuming it would be weaker.
Stout sun crust on sunny aspects.
Surface hoar at 10,800 on the summit ridge (photo).