Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2926 m
- Slope Angle
- 15°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Most notable is the poor snowpack structure and wind. Did not get any collapses or shooting cracks. Cracking was mainly around the skis.</p>
Loose snow/sluffing in steep terrain. Was able to start sluffs at Twin Lakes Pass and in East Bowl.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We were able to easily initiate 2 wind slabs about 10cm (4") deep on the ridge of East Bowl. These ran only a few feet since they were blocked by exposed rock/trees. On exposed ridges with steep slopes, I think these could run. May not be very wide, but could entrain the loose snow on the surface. Winds should slow a bit tomorrow, then increase a bit on Monday. You could expect a moderate danger for wind slab at high elevation exposed ridges. Easily initiated in our travels, but maybe D1 in size if triggered.</p> <p>Poor snowpack structure is still present. It seems the slab may be even less cohesive than it was last weekend. I did not get a propagation in the ECT. At about 26 to 28 taps, we had a Q3 shear about 45cm from the bottom. I think the facet layer at the bottom of the 1F slab varied in its depth: I may have a discrepancy in my snowprofile as to the depth of the facet layer at 35cm. </p> <p>I would like to see more snowprofiles/areas to confirm this.</p>
Southern aspects had up to 2" of new snow on a crust, making for some occasional slippery traverses. Could also feel a crust in East Bowl, which is a WNW aspect. Did not notice any crust on the ascent back up East Bowl Pass, NW aspect.