Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2957 m
- Slope Angle
- 27°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Obviously the poor snowpack structure has not changed. With winds picking up and plenty of snow available for transport, windloading will be in issue in the near future. </p>
Traveled from 7800-10,000, north, north west to west, slope angels to 35°
My pit was off the ridge and semi-protected but still in the wind zone a bit. I think this was the deepest pit I've dug this year at 51". I was still finding a decent slab in my travels.
No propagation in ECT tests. Most sensitive weak layer was underneath the rime crust failing on small grains facets.
Will need to watch wind loading and new snow totals in the near future. Increasing danger if the wind continues to blow as there is plenty of snow available for transport.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Winds will be forming new wind slabs on the lee of ridges.</p> <p>The persistent slab is just waiting for more weight. The presence of a slab was spacially variable but in general I was finding a slab in most places and at most elevations in the area I traveled today. Trend will depend on new snow quantities and wind loading - same to increasing danger.</p>
A little less than an inch of new snow by the end of the day on top of the 6" from the weekend made for pretty decent skiing.