Quick report
- Red Flags
- Collapsing, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I experienced two audible collapses on west-facing slopes at 11,130 feet and 11,200 feet. I had one collapse on a northwest aspect at 11,000 feet. </p>
I noticed this small debris pile at the bottom of Julie's Backside. Looks to me like a natural soft slab that ran during the storm.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>I traveled mainly on west-facing slopes near treeline and below. Near treeline, the 2/11 weak layer is still reacting to the weight of a skier with two collapses. The snow beneath my skis just felt unstable, and I did not want to be on steep slopes today. The 2/11 layer had sudden collapse results and propagation with extended column tests. I'll be avoiding steep west-facing slopes for a while. These slopes are not loaded up with hard slabs like the northerlies, but the potential for human-triggered soft slabs failing on the 2/11 layer remains likely.</p> <p>ECTP 19 on the 2/11 weak layer</p> <p>Sugar</p>
Solars in Pinto Glades were completely crusted over and not worth skiing. I found dense, sun-affected snow on west aspects. Northerlies hold powder near treeline, but it quickly turned to mashed potatoes down low due to very warm temperatures.