Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We noted some significant red flags today. We felt collapses and easily identified the weak layer as faceted snow (poor snowpack structure). We viewed a large slope that had "spiderwebbed" during the loading but didn't avalanche due to low slope angle. I'm certain that if we were to mess with steep north facing slopes we could have triggered avalanches.</p>
Large natural avalanche that released on Tuesday during the frontal passage, upper Seeley.
Slope that 'spider webbed' during the storm but didn't release because too low of a slope angle.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>This is of great concern to me for this weekend. I do not feel comfortable with any of the steep north west, north or northeast facing slopes. Many of my favorite ski runs are off limits right now because of the weak snow which is now buried by the recent storm. We weren't comfortable riding the snowmachine through the upper end of Pleasant Creek to the top of the Skyline because of exposure to northerly slopes. This problem will persist through the weekend. Many "powder starved" people will be getting out this weekend and may unknowingly get onto some of these northerly slopes. Numerous slopes that get climbed in Seeley and Staker have not avalanched this week. With pretty nice weather expected this weekend, it's a set up for an avalanche accident.</p>
The 2 feet of snow that fell early in the week is slowly starting to consolidate but the snow still feels very deep on snowmachines and limits travel a bit still. Breaking trail on skis is becoming easier as you stay on the upper half of the storm snow now.