Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking
Isolated wind drifts and cracking observed above the chutes in Hidden Canyon. Remotely triggered a 4-5 foot wide wind slab about 6-8 inches deep. Even while keeping a very generous distance from the very clear pockets of wind-drifted snow, isolated wind-drifts were observed. The wind slabs I observed myself may not have been hazardous but I kept lots of distance from the big wind drifts. This wind drifted snow definitely poses a hazard to Brighton skiers exiting the gate at Hidden Canyon, especially since many travelers in this area go solo and without a beacon (like I mistakenly did this morning). Following the traverse past the chutes and into the trees leads to a safer area with less wind drift but following the traverse to get there could prove to be devastating.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind slabs built up above the chutes in Hidden Canyon. Remotely triggered minor wind slabs from above, below, and to the side of the wind drifted snow. There are 2-4 foot tall wind drifts just below the Hidden Canyon traverse and they can definitely be remotely triggered from heavy traffic above. </p> <p>Over 20 inches in the last 72 hours have created a great amount of loading on the old weak layer of snow. Slowly, I believe this increasing snowfall is slowly making the snowpack safer as the PWL is now buried below 2+ feet of snow. Still, this heavy loading event has caused increased load on top of the wind drifts that have made this area hazardous. </p>