Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
Storm totals were pushing 50 cm in upper Cardiff Fork. There were numerous examples of natural dry loose avalanches within the new snow, generally on E aspects rather than N (photo 1). These appeared to have occurred yesterday. There was a small, D1 avalanche near the Ivories (photo 2). WNW winds were drifting snow on upper elevation ridgelines (photo 3). I did not note any cracking or collapsing while breaking trail. In light of the conditions over the past few days and the nature of recent avalanches, it seems that evidence of instabilities within the PWL are decreasing in frequency and predictability yet increasing in magnitude and cohesion.