Quick report
I'd call today a moderate rating. Would expect the same tomorrow unless the winds and snow totals increase more than forecast.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>There were shallow but manageable soft wind slabs on the cornices of West Monitor. One calved off naturally while we were there. Only got the top 3" of light density overnight snow moving. Wouldn't have packed much if any punch. Our last lap off the ridge initiated about a foot wide X 3' long (intentional) soft wind slab that cracked off my skies. Photo shows both. Observed similar natural shallow wind slab calving off the cornice in South Monitor. </p>
About 6" of new snow at the Willow trailhead. 10-12" in West Monitor top to bottom. Willow had some expected wind affect from NW winds. New snow was well bonded to the old snow surface on all aspects skied. Wind loading on the ridge was much less than expected, given the typically windy location. Winds were in the 10-20mph range on the ridge...Not bad at all.