Quick report
<sorry>No photos or pit profiles.</sorry> Route today was Raymond Glades and East face of Raymond with access via Millcreek. Highlights:
- Snowpack 150 cms (5') on upper elevation northerly aspects, and 90 cms (3') on southeast aspects.
- Still finding weaknesses within storm snow and at the interface of the old snow surface. Christmas storm snow slab is very relaxed however.
- Upper elevations of East face of Raymond appear to have been wind scoured from Christmas Eve winds that had an easterly component. Paul was pointing out that the upper regions of the East face had at least the same, or even more snow, two weeks ago.
- Two ~5 mm crusts on East aspect on Raymond with facets underneath the crusts. Not a concern for now, but something worth keeping in mind for the future.
- My partner did manage to get a 20 cm (8") soft slab on a sheltered, mid-slope northwest aspect at 9000' to fail as we were skiing the slope. This had run on a hard wind crust that formed some time last week. The failure was weaker snow sitting on top of the old wind slab. This was on a steep roll over and didn't run as the slope angle lessened below the roll over. But it did remind me that some shallow pockets may still be out there at mid and upper elevations. (UAC Moab forecaster Eric Trenbeath - visiting the Wasatch - pointed this out in his 12/26 observation.)
- Unable to get any results with mid-pack facets now down at least 75 cms on upper elevation north aspects. I had been watching these layers pretty carefully last week, and observing signs of strengthening. That they were not active from the Christmas storm is another positive sign these layers have healed.
- My concern for the short term is any fresh wind drifts from Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday. These are likely to be shallow, and any failures would run either at the interface of the fresh wind slab, or within Christmas storm snow.
Low hazard lower and wind-sheltered mid elevations, Moderate in wind-drifted mid as well as upper elevations.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Was expecting more obvious wind loading, but winds were swirling and gusty, leading to only shallow pockets at best. It is possible upper elevations have had more wind loading, and there is plenty of loose snow available for transport. Regardless, any fresh wind drifts on Wednesday should be easy to identify and manage.</p> <p>Beyond any fresh wind drifts, looks like normal caution with an apparently stable snowpack.</p>
Christmas storm has settled by about 25%, with settled storm snow depths now about 30 cms (12") in upper Millcreek. Early stages of some faceting going on at the snow surface, but nothing to be concerned about for the time being. With high pressure expected to return for the next several days, we will need to watch the snow surface for weakening as well as surface hoar development.