Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Visible/active avalanche problems were limited to sluffs/point releases occurring within the top 10-20 cm of new snow in the area. Minor cracking when ski cutting was observed at this same depth range on lower to mid-elevation slopes. Interestingly the deeper snow up high produced no crack propagation with ski cutting. However, the deeper (40cm) snow on upper elevations did produce notable ECT scores of 11 and 14 (RP) - just above the interface with the underlying old slabby snow.
Several small D1 and smaller point releases were being triggered from the sun on rocky slopes. One small slab (D1.5) had released from a small cornice fall on a NW aspect within the last 48 hours. Ski cuts between switchbacks on mid-elevation 32-35 degree slopes produced cracks 15-20 cm deep and 1-2 meters long within fresh storm snow that had been wind-affected.Weather
- Air Temp
- 18.5 at 3400'
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 15+ cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Pleasant partly cloudy weather with some sunshine. Light winds from the E and SE were observed at mid and upper elevations. Recent snow totals were hard to determine at higher elevations due to recent wind redistribution. The deepest storm snow was 40cm deep on a North facing slope from 2800-3400ft.
Snowpack
A pit dug to 1.3 meters at 3400 feet revealed 40cm of windblown storm snow on top of 10cm thick old hard slab. Snow below the slab layer was cold and consolidated. Notable test results include ECT11 and 14 down 40cm at the bottom of the storm slab. The fracture character was resistant planar or Q2. The weak layer was decomposing precipitation particles on top of a slabby bed surface.
Avalanche
Recent avalanche activity was limited to small sun-triggered point releases and sluffs on steeper terrain. Along the pipeline road, there are a few wet slides up to D3 in size from several weeks ago.