Quick report
- Red Flags
- Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I had several notable collapses, mainly where the wind has deposited a stronger slab over the weak snow near the ground. </p>
In the lower elevations of Gold Hill there is just enough snow for a machine to sled on if you stay on roads and grassy areas.
With a little elevation gain, the riding was a bit better, but grassy meadows and being easy on the throttle were the ticket.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The weak snow that is near the bottom of the snow pack is still reactive with stability tests. My compression tests were failing in the 12-15 range from the elbow indicating moderate stability. </p> <p>Collapsing and cracking on northwest facing slopes still indicates the wind slab needs some time to settle out. </p>
Some nice settled powder in the protected lower areas and wind worked snow on exposed ridge lines. Conditions are still quite thin and the riding and turning can be punchy and not much of a base to keep a person off the ground.