Quick report
Unstable snow was generally found in a few specific wind loaded areas near ridges and the tops of peaks. We found wind slabs on a variety of aspects, often barely hidden under a few inches of snow. Other than that, the recent snow was generally right-side-up and well bonded to the old crust.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 28
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
A bit of a break between the storms today. Brief moments of sunshine allowed for view around nearby terrain. Winds were nearly calm all morning.
Snowpack
Wind Slab: Minor wind drifting, scouring, and cornice formation was seem along exposed ridges and near the tops of the peaks. Wind affects were localized to these ridgelines.
In non-wind affected areas: About 12-15 inches of right-side-up storm snow was measured. I could find a consistent interstorm layer 8 in (20cm) below the surface, but it didn't produce any notable failures in snowpack tests, small slope tests, and hand pits. The recent snow was well bonded to the 12/6 crust.
The recent rain crust (12/6) is growing stronger. It was supportable in some places and not in others. Below moist to wet melt form grains exist all the way to the ground.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 6200 ft
3 additional small human-triggered wind slabs were also reported nearby. SS-AS-D1-R1-S