Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No in your face red flags, but given the stretch of winter weather where lots of new snow, water weight and wind drifted snow has been added to the weak snow pack, avalanche conditions are high. The snow conditions right now are very good and it is tempting to get on steeper slopes, but the snow pack needs some time to adjust.</p>
Great snow conditions in the Gold Hill area with around two feet of new snow which has made for some great riding, filling in old tracks and keeping the sleds off the ground. With the avalanche hazard high, keeping to safe low angle slopes and playing in the meadows is great fun right now.
The already weak snow pack was just slammed with new snow, high winds and water weight putting more stress on the weak sugary snow near the bottom of the snow pack. Even though in my stability tests where it took several hard hits from my shoulder to get an isolated column of snow to crack across it, this still tells me that avalanches are very possible once you collapse the weak snow.
A couple photos of some natural avalanches that happened during the storm cycle. The first picture is of east facing Double Hill and it looks like a decent size crown. The second picture is on the east side of Moffit Peak.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p> </p> <p>To me these are tricky conditions, where there was some natural avalanches in the area and some slopes have filled back in and things look and feel good to go. Normally this time of year we are starting to venture out more on bigger slopes, but the current snow pack is still not to be trusted even though conditions feel great under our sleds and skis. </p> <p>The new snow has likely settled out some with todays break in the weather, but more is on the way and will need time to settle after the storms have moved on. Increasing winds should also be a concern with new snow on the way.</p>
Anywhere from 18-24" of nice medium density snow that rides very nice and kind of that hero snow that gives a below average rider like myself a little boost. The conditions have greatly improved and finally felt like I was not riding on the ground and all the old tracks are filled in. It looked like winter today!