Quick report
Excellent skiing conditions for the shallow but right-side-up snowpack. Most significant hazard today stems from buried obstacles and the likelihood of traumatic injury in case of an avalanche. The combination of sustained winds, cold temps, and a shallow snowpack could create more problems in the coming days, with the possibility of wind slab formation and basal facet growth.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>50cm-70cm new snow observed at various elevations on predominantly NW-W-SW aspects. Numerous hand shear tests between 9200' and 10500' demonstrated minimal overall cohesion (F), with moderate cohesion in the lowest 10cm (4F-), accompanied by small isolated basal facets. Surface hoar observed on west-facing terrain at 10500', but will likely deteriorate from wind and sun affect. S-1 at time of observations (0800-0900MST). </p> <p>Signs of wind affect observed at and above 10000' on multiple aspects. No significant wind slab problem observed as of this morning, but sustained or increasing winds could change that quickly.</p>