Quick report
- Aspect
- West
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches
- Elevation
- 2652 m
- Slope Angle
- 20°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Pockets of natural wind slab activity on steep NE slopes.</p>
Between yesterday and today, the main avalanche concern was wind slabs coupled with step-down potential into the November facets. Wind slabs were reactive, and pockets of natural avalanche activity could be observed on steep NE slopes. This hazard will only increase tonight with strong wind and new snow.
The November facets are still not to be trusted in this region. They're trending in the right direction, but we just need a little more time. On average, they're buried 100-150 cm down but can be found in the upper meter at lower elevations and on Westerly slopes exposed to the wind. A PST on a W facing slope at 8700' resulted in PST 40/100 (End) on these facets 70cm beneath the surface.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>W-N-E slopes have 25-60cm deep wind slab at upper and mid elevations. Buried surface hoar from the night of 1/06 can be found underneath this slab. This hazard will increase with tonight's new snow and strong winds.</p> <p>On mid and upper elevation N-E slopes, the November facets are buried up to 150cm deep. On these slopes, it's hard to find propagation in ECTs but is still not to be trusted. This layer is present on all elevations W-N-E, and is within the upper meter of the snowpack at lower elevations and western slopes exposed to the wind. We still do not trust this weak layer at any elevation and aspect. </p>
The upper snowpack has been packed in by the strong winds. Saturday's low density powder is now stiff, fast riding powder.