Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Moderate to strong winds were the main red flag today. The couple inches new snow was getting blown into drifts and wind slabs in exposed terrain. Some of these would crack ahead of skis and sleds, but I did not find these overly reactive. </p>
1. Anywhere from 2-3' in the Double Hill area and the riding is not too bad given the lack of recent snow. The loose sugary snow near the ground appears to be adjusting to the slab above. 2. A poor photo showing bushes still showing on Double Hill, but things have been slowly filling in.
Fresh wind drifts would crack ahead of skis and sled and with more slope angle these would likely have released.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Fresh wind drifts off the ridge lines would crack with a persons weight, but I did not find these very sensitive. I would imagine on steeper slopes these would be more reactive and a bigger issue. A day of less wind and milder conditions, these should settle out . </p> <p>Can't ignore the layer of sugary faceted snow near the ground, but the slab above this layer seems relaxed and I was not able to get a crack to propagate in snow pits.</p>
The two inches of new snow helped soften the ride from the recent winds exposing old hard tracks.