Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3170 m
- Slope Angle
- 28°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The snowpack has begun to grow, and hopefully will continue to do so. What we will continue to be faced with for the rest of the season, is its poor structure. Even though riding conditions are improving and we are able to get after it more, there is a strong cohesive slab of snow sitting on top of weak, sugary, faceted snow in most places on the north half of the compass at mid to upper elevations. Throughout our travels today, there was localized cracking and collapsing in areas where the snowpack was shallower and more affected by the wind on slopes with a northerly aspect. Our PWL is very alive, and needs to be given wide margins for a duration of time longer. </p>
Image shows an arrow pointing at collapsed slope with cracking apparent. Second image is of the pit profile dug on an adjacent slope correlating with the snowpilot.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See "Red Flag" comments</p> <p>With all the recent snow over the past two weeks, the winds have had their way and deposited slabs in odd places. We noted slabs that had released naturally within windrifted snow on almost all aspects today at and above treeline. Some were cornince triggered, others were not. In places, the slab stepped down and pulled out pockets into old snow. </p>
Riding conditions were great, as we have developed more structure over the past couple of weeks the snowpack has gained body and is keeping us off the ground in most places. The sunnies took a slight hit since the last snowfall, and have developed a crust on mostly due South. Anything on and trending towards the north half of the compass was 4 of 5 star riding where the snow depths permitted. That being said, snow depths ranged from 50cm at low elevations 8,500' to 150 cm at 10,000'. That being said, average deeths were around a meter and allowed for supportable quality riding.