Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Multiple Naturals and Human Triggered Storm Slab Avalanches observed: see Avalanche Observation. </p> <p>Soft Wind Slabs of up to 16 inches were common on the leeward ridge lines. Of Note is the potential for the Southerlies to become a problem over the next 48 hours if we receive the significant loading as predicted by the latest forecasts. There is a friable 1 inch m/f crust with small facets underneath it, and this crust was formed during the warming earlier in the week. Collapse failure may come into play once we get a more substantial load on these aspects. </p> <p>See photo from Avalanche Observation that depicts NSF's (and resulting failure plane) that were formed on the Northerlies during the dry period on the 8th and 9th. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Todays Widespread Storm Slab activity appears to have elevated this as the number one problem in the areas traveled today, and if the forecast verifies on the high end this problem may continue to be an issue of concern. </p> <p>See above comments, and the question remains the same: are we still dealing with potential reactivity when we get new loading on the buried PWL's? The answer is Very Likely in areas with the shallower snowpacks. </p> <p> </p> <p>Also of concern is the forecast for the Winds to continue to remain in the Moderate range in the Mid Elevations, and Strong in the Upper Elevations at least until the early morning hours. This potential for additional loading is a not just a concern for new Wind Slab development, but also for the possibility of overloading the buried PWL's. </p> <p> </p> <p>Considerable appeared to be the Danger Rating for today due to the Widespread Storm Slab activity, and if the forecast for tomorrow verifies on the high end this Considerable Rating may elevate to High tomorrow during any significant new loading from either New Snow and or Wind. </p>
Excellent riding in at least 12 inches of moderately dense snow with a slight inversion in the new snow occurring by late morning and into the early afternoon hours. The new snow from that past few days gave the riding a spongy base with the moderate densities of the new snow giving it a light creamy feeling.