Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2804 m
- Slope Angle
- 23°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Red flags were not all that visible today and maybe not as significant as on other days. The wind wasn't actively moving snow around but it was still possible to find a few places where one could get some cracking or feel wind related density changes. The snowpack also seemed reasonably strong with a gradually increasing density profile, however the facets really are not that deeply buried (1m or less) so could still be triggered by a human. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Much of the terrain adjacent to the Canyons and on the Big Cottonwood side of the ridge line was extensively tested over the last few days without result. This would suggest the new snow may not be too much of a factor, although there were reports of new snow avalanches on Argenta and in Days that suggest otherwise. </p> <p>On the north facing slope where I dug the pit, the facets were covered by a relatively strong cohesive slab. Snow pit test produced no results. This was also extensively tested by side country skiers along the PC ridge line without result. That said, the current snow structure is still within the range of many human triggered avalanches. The large avalanche in Todd's bowl on Murdock was also a good reminder of our deep slab problem. </p> <p>On other aspects with thinner snow, the facets could easily be located with by probing the snow with your pole.</p>
Light snowfall from the past few days was enough to freshen the snow surface and make for good riding conditions. Old tracks were not fully buried but not all that noticeable either.