Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Most of the red flags were out there today. We got a pretty large collapse around 8,130' on a southwest-facing slope while skinning up. Otherwise, widespread avalanches, heavy recent snowfall, and wind moving the new snow around.</p>
There are a myriad of weak layers in the backcountry right now, ranging from the persistent weak layers from early December and early February to more recent instabilities, like surface new snow or wind-drifted slabs. While we set out to assess the different weak layers and how well the new snow was bonding, the focus shifted to a large, remotely triggered avalanche off the Reynolds Peak shoulder.
We were able to traverse the ridge and get into the crown to dig a profile. We dug on an east aspect at 9,241'; at this point, the slope was 34 degrees. The avalanche failed on small-grain facets directly above a fragile 4F+ crust, possibly a radiation recrystallization crust. This was interesting, as it was about 15 cm above the stout rain crust interface that formed earlier in February. The avalanche did not appear to have stepped down anywhere but seemed very well connected. This crust has been noted in a few other recent avalanches, particularly at mid and lower elevations and on aspects with a bit of a solar tilt.
Crown from the far skiers right side, coming down the ridge from Reynolds Peak
Side profile of the crown, highlighting the thin crust that makes the bed surface
The small crust highlighted in the pit wall - 15cm above the large noticeable crust interface
Hand Hardness - Pitwall - East Aspect - 9200'
Crown Profile - East Aspect - 9200' - Reynolds Shoulder
Snowpack
Great riding conditions between 1-2' of new low-density snow in most zones. Below 8000' the snow surface was beginning to get damp as the sun came out this afternoon.