Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure remains with faceted snow beneath the Christmas rain crust with January snow creating a slab on top. Surface snow is also getting weak, particularly in sheltered terrain below tree line. The entire pack will soon be faceted in those areas. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Faceted snow beneath the Christmas rain crust continues to present as a problem where an overriding slab exists. The rain crust where I dug on a N aspect near tree line at 10,800' was quite stout but even after cutting through it, it reacted stubbornly with a score of ECTP30. Failure did occur on facets beneath the crust. I believe human triggered avalanches failing on this layer are becoming more the exception than the rule, but the the thickness of the crust and the amount of wind loading will play a factor. </p> <p>Photo illustrates ECTP30 failure beneath the Christmas rain crust. </p> <p>A few isolated wind slabs may still be reactive in the high country. </p>
Nearly every possible snow surface type can be found out there. If looking on the bright side, there is enough snow cover to get around and rain crust is still keeping you above the basal facets. Some slopes have been smoothed over and rocks are covered. They should be in okay shape when it snows again. Other slopes, especially wind scoured above tree line, not so much. Was pleased to see SW aspects still holding snow, due S getting thin.
Wind affected snow on an exposed NE aspect.
SW slopes still holding snow.
South getting thin again.
Decent coverage in this north facing, high alpine cirque where the winds haven't scoured it too badly.