Quick report
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No red flags where I traveled today in Gold Hill. The snow pack felt tired and not much going on with lots of wind textured snow, firm melt freeze crust and the wind drifts were not reactive. Did not get into upper elevation terrain where the wind issues might be different.</p>
I believe these are some wave clouds that I noticed this morning on the drive up. Possibly still some stronger winds in the higher terrain.
It's official, the highway gate is open and dang it, what an early date to have road access. Kind of felt like the winter that wasn't!
Lots of worked over snow from a busy weekend and spring like conditions.
This avalanche over near Moffit Peak was the only noteworthy item I observed today. This slope is a northeast aspect at 10,000' with a steep breaker that has avalanched early in the season and likely held on to weak faceted snow. Not sure if this was a natural or human triggered avalanche?
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Not much going on in the avalanche department from my observations today, although I did spot an interesting avalanche on a northeast aspect at 10,000' near the Moffit Peak area. This small slope has a steep break over and I believe it has avalanched in one of the earlier natural cycles this season. Unsure of the trigger, but with lots of riders out this weekend, it could have been triggered from below? The weak January layer seems to be gaining strength and adjusting to the current weather and loading events from February.</p> <p>No noteworthy issues from the recent stretch of windy days and I was not finding any problems with wind drifted snow as I traveled along the Gold Hill Ridgeline.</p>
The snow surface never really softened up much today with the cool temperatures and light winds. The snow surface is pretty worked over from a busy weekend and strong winds for a few days. I did find some soft dense snow on true north, but it is getting hard to find consistent soft snow.