Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor Snowpack Structure continues to be the Wild Card that doesn't promote confidence to ride steep lines, especially on the slopes on the Upper Half of the compass. No collapsing, and or significant avalanches observed. There appeared to be one person that felt it necessary to play with a Cornice on top of West Monitor and this resulted in a small Wind Slab Pocket being dislodged when it hit the slope below. There may have been more human activity later in the day. </p> <p>Of Note: there were definitely old lingering Wind Slabs from early Saturday morning and these were now buried with the new snow. </p> <p>The Storm Slab sensitivity from the past few days appears to have settled out. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above, and in the areas traveled the new load of snow and water did not appear to be enough to activate the buried PWL's and bring on any Naturals. It appeared that LCC receieved close to two times the snow and water as BCC with over 1.5 inches of water. Conditions may have been different in that region. </p> <p>The Light Density New Snow was Sluffing easily on Steep slopes with a managable Loose Dry issue. </p> <p> </p> <p>Wet Loose most likely became an issue in the afternoon. </p> <p> </p> <p>Despite not encountering any significant Avalanche Issues, the fact remains any steep terrain continues to be suspect, and a Considerable Danger Rating appears appropriate for any potential Persistent Slab possibilities. With the potential for another two feet plus over the next 48 hours, we may yet see another avalanche cycle if the forecast comes in on the high end. Considerable appears to be the likely Danger Rating for Monday with the increasing winds and new snow, but if we do not receive this new load, the Danger may be closer to Moderate. </p>
12 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours, and this latest round was very Light in density. Storm totals appear to be at least 24 inches in BCC on the PC Ridgeline. Of Note the first 15 inches came in under much warmer conditions and these layers have settled out significantly and become a great spongy turning base for the last round of "Blower". Riding in the morning hours was superb.
Afternoon solar came on strong around 1400 and the Southerlies will likely be crusted tomorrow.