Quick report
Picture of the run after the small avalanche, and a poor picture of the crown with the cornice above.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Found one of the wind slabs out there today. Took one run in a NNE facing chute which did not have a slab. Took a second run right next door where up high in the run under the cornice found a 1F-/4F+ small pocket of slab. When attempting to cut, it broke out roughly a 20'X20'X18" WS that ran into the soft snow below, entraining the snow and running the full length of the line. Basically a small wind slab that triggered a small loose snow avalanche. Manageable problem for the right user, but if the wind slab had broken above a skier it could have taken them off their feet and for a ride The bed surface appeared to be about a 12" 4F slab over about 12" of weak faceted snow.</p> <p>Still would be skeptical of high elevation steep rocky North"s that harbor old, and/or weak snow on the ground. Low probability, high consequence.</p>
Quite a variety of snow conditions today. Some of the snow that had a slight wind effect/slab had recrystalized overnight with the cold clear skies, some still had a very skiable wind crust on top. Plenty of wind effected snow still out there that would be pretty poor skiing. Later in the day the South's were starting to pick up some heat with small roller balls forming. Would expect mid and lower elevation solar aspects to have a suncrust tomorrow.