Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Cracking observed in the wind loaded areas, and yet most of these were only cracking in the upper 4 to 6 cm. Most of the wind slabs outside of the Back Bowl area were only 4 finger plus.. See picture of slide off of Patsy Marley, and other reports indicate more widespread sensitivity than observed in the area traveled. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above and picture. Picture appears to indicate a cornice fall that triggered various depths of wind slabs upon decent. </p> <p>As indicated by the slide reported two days ago on 10420, lingering SH and or NSF's were still active recently in isolated locations. Other reports of deep avalanches in the past 72 hours indicate potential for Basal Facets as well as mid pack weak layer reactivity. </p> <p> </p> <p>Wet Loose may be an issue in the lower elevations as well as on steep southerly facing aspects in the mid to low end of the upper elevations in the afternoon on Friday.</p> <p> </p> <p>Large and sensitive cornices appear to be a concern.</p> <p> </p> <p>With no naturals observed in area traveled the Danger was "High Consequence Moderate", yet other reports of wind loaded naturals appear to make it Considerable. With the SW winds forecast to escalate in the pm on Friday, Considerable most likely will be the call for Friday. </p> <p> </p>
Excellent settled powder in the protected mid elevations. Widespread wind damage and 4 finger plus slabs of up to at least 30 cm thick. Riding was challenging in the upper elevations with thick, slow dense wind laden snow. Snake Creek had dense riding in multiple layers of old wind slabs from the past three days. The bitter cold also played a factor in the slow riding conditions. The majority of the Back Bowl area was extremely dense with variable depths of wind slabs, and their hardness definitely was at least one finger to pencil in plaes.