Quick report
- Red Flags
- Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The snowpack seems to be handling the warm up generally well, but there are warm temperatures on the horizon. </p>
One quick note—there was a bootpack and a bunch of postholes right up the skin track to at least 9,600 feet. Just a reminder to use good travel etiquette, and if you’re heading into the backcountry without skis or a snowboard, remember that avalanches can still happen.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The main issue right now is wet snow. We didn’t see any new wet loose activity between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., but there were plenty of signs from yesterday’s action. The wind did a good job keeping many slopes cool through the morning. That said, by the time we were heading out, the snow surface was becoming noticeably damp.</p> <p> </p> <p>I think the danger will stay about the same tomorrow but will start to rise as we go a few nights without solid refreezes.</p> <p> </p> <p>With these warm temperatures, timing will be key. Also worth keeping an eye out for cornices breaking loose and generally slick, slide-for-life conditions. </p>
Lots of variety in the snow surface out there today—it really depended on time, aspect, and elevation. Above 8,000 feet on north to northeast-facing slopes, we found soft, faceted snow that made for fast, fun turns—so long as you stayed in that mid-to-upper elevation band with a northerly tilt. Up along the ridgelines, there was some light wind texturing, but no obvious signs of transport.
Below 8,000 feet, all aspects (even north) had a supportable crust in the morning. By the time we were heading down, those same slopes were damp. South and west-facing terrain was a mix of refrozen junk, while northwest aspects were coated in a more shallow breakable crust.
The light northwest wind helped keep the snow surface cool into the late morning and early afternoon, which worked in our favor on the more northerly slopes. But anything that had refrozen or avalanched previously was just a frozen mess of rollerballs.
That being said, there is good riding to be had. I think the compass is just going to continue to shrink with every day of warm temepratures and clear skies. Get out early, and get up high.