Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- isolated
We felt one large thundering collapse with cracking on a north facing slope at 9,600'. In this area wind had created a more cohesive slab than we saw in most other areas. During yesterday’s period of intense snowfall and wind, some small (D1) avalanches in very steep terrain released naturally. We noted these on N–NE slopes at upper elevations around 9,700'. These avalanches appeared to fail on the new/old snow interface.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Chilly day with mostly clear skies, light wind out of the southwest.
Snowpack
We noted 2–4" of new snow, though some areas had been wind-affected and bare. Below that was another couple of inches of weak, faceted snow. In most areas, this sits on top of a melt-freeze crust. I have found this crust to exist on most aspects at mid and upper elevations (where there is any snowpack at all). Where strong NW winds scoured during the Nov. 28th wind event, this rain crust is exposed (see photos). Below that is a mix of weak snow and crusts.
In a snowpit we had an ECTN5 down 25cm fron the surface failing on facets (SH was present but not upright).
In most locations we do not have a cohesive slab that can overload our weak layer. When we do, we will start to see more avalanches.