Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Due to lack of overnight refreezes over the past three days, glissening/saturated wet grains were observed 30 to 45 cm down. At best, the new snow was resting on a friable/minimal 2 cm inch thick melt freeze crust. Snow pit tests were indicating clean sheers directly below this crust at the top of the wet grain layer. These wet grains were large (up to 3 mm) and very loose and cohesionless. Temperatures were warm but due to early morning cloud cover they did not sky rocket as quickly as possible. Minimal loose wet avalanches observed on E and S aspects. We stopped riding at 1500 and the west slopes were receiving intense heat from sun, and roller ball activity was initiating. This abundant heat, in combination with previously sighted deep wet grain layers may have led to the production of wide spread wet loose activity before days end. And, any loose wet activity appears to have the potential to step down into the deeper wet grain layers.</p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above.</p> <p>Although not observed today, this potential may increase if temperatures continue to rise throughout the week. Until the previously cited deep layers of wet grains refreeze and or settle/compact this potential can't be ruled out.</p> <p>Danger observed while we were out was Moderate with minimal Wet Loose activity. Yet, from a distance it appeared that more widespread Wet Loose activity occurred at mid elevations in Little Cottonwood on ESE steep facing aspects. With the prospect of more widespread significant Wet Loose activity occurring on steep west aspects after 1500 today, the Danger may have escalated to Considerable. Conditions on Thursday look to be similar if the weather forecasts verify. </p>
Cold dry snow observed above 9500 feet until 10:30am. Due to residual heat in snowpack, in combination with green housing, cold dry snow dampened quickly below 10100 feet. Riding was wet, but surfy, buttery, and fun. The moderate angled terrain rode best at elevations below 10100 and the steeper terrain tended to "clump up" upon descent.