Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
8"-10" of new snow over old, faceted snow. Old surface crust distribution was variable but was less obvious with elevation. Widespread glide cracks. Numerous D1 slabs (natural and suspected skier triggered) on Sunburst. At least 4 notable D1 natural loose snow avalanches with starting zone in rocky upper elevations. Cornice cracks were observed along ridgeline - most ski tracks were further out on the cornice than needed. Collapsing was specific to alder meadows, likely due to alder settling under skier weight.
Weather
- Air Temp
- -23
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Really quite cold.
Snowpack
8"-10" of light density (4F - F) snow on top of ice crust. Hand pits and ECT failed on isolation at the new/old interface. Common weak layer was near-surface facets. Facets were directly above and below an ice crust now buried about 10" deep at mid-elevations. Ice crust was not observed at upper elevation pit.
Avalanche
Numerous shallow D1 slab and loose snow avalanches observed on multiple aspects (S Sunburst and N Cornbiscuit). Glide cracks were abundant on most aspects. At least three glide cracks were observed on S Magnum and 3-5 prominent cracks on S Sunburst. Smaller cracks are getting obscured with new and drifting snow.