Quick report
- Aspect
- West
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3048 m
- Slope Angle
- 35°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The facets are generally more of a hazard to come......</p>
Two photos below demonstrate the variability of the snowpack on exposed west aspects in LCC.
Photo 1: HS= 8-10" or so, rime crust is shaded above glove.
Photo 2:
20' south of photo 1 in an area that is slightly more shaded.
HS= 16 to 18"", glove is next to excavated fist density loose dry facets. Finger is pointing to rime crust. Pole columns in this area broke upon isolation in facets with little energy.
Photo 3:
North facing LCC is not ready for prime time, kinda rocky.
Photo 4:
Crown above White Pine Lake. This looks more like a rockfall/landslide. I am not sure how recent it is, I did not notice it last summer from the summit of Red Top. It also can be old, and I haven't seen it since I typically wait for deeper cover to travel in this area.
generally Low danger. Moderate hazard is worst case scenario.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>There are some areas of drifts and windslabs on exposed westerly aspects. I avoided one area while breaking trail to 10,000' in the Track of the lookers left Tri Chute. These areas were isolated and non-reactive, I skied through some without incident or any signs of instability. Some consisted of consolidated graupel. My guess is that it would be possible to trigger something.</p> <p>Isolated Moderate Danger</p> <p>Normal caution for thin snow pack. I stopped at approximately 10,000' due to the thin snowpack as opposed to avalanche hazard. I was more concerned with hitting obstacles.</p>
Mid elevations in White Pine generally have a deeper (HS up to 20") than in BCC. Shady areas above 8500' contain a 4" thick layer of loose basal facets up to 2mm.
Upper elevation areas are windblown and scoured/drifted.
Rime crust is a bit thicker and stronger in exposed west aspects. I was able to feel it while skiing, this was not the case on east aspects in BCC.
Some protected sunny areas were damp on my exit at 1 pm.
Upper elevation west aspects contain a shallow weak snow pack (see photos below)