Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3078 m
- Slope Angle
- 36°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Not the typical POOR structure; continually improving mid-pack persistence and basal facets on upper elevation above 9k' E-NW aspects. Most areas where we want to ski contain Moderate structure as observed in pits. Un-supported consequential terrain features and areas lee to any significant previous wind load continue to give me caution.</p>
Profile from apron approaching The Sliver
Photo from pit location looking up The Sliver
Coverage on Lightning Ridge; Hogum Fork
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With winds from any and all directions previously loading slopes these seem to be un-reactive, but the likelihood of triggering a stubborn one in unfriendly terrain keeps me cautious and wary of suspect snow surface clues.</p> <p>With our increased snow depths and moderate temperatures I've seen gains(in Strength, improvements in Structure, and decreased Propagation Propensity) in both the mid-pack persistence of NSF's formed above and below the ~Dec11-12 temp crust apparent in most pits and the basal facets at the bottom of our snowpack on slopes facing E-NW above 9k'. This problem seems dormant for now, but likelihood of triggering comes down to Structure on the slopes we choose to ski and how the Terrain effects the slab continuity.</p>
Variety of snow surface conditions ranging from undisturbed F hard powder/NSF's with 2-5mm surface hoar in protected shady terrain to soft wind-pressed (feathers and leopard skin) and thin wind slabs(P hard) on upper elevation terrain. No surface hoar observed in any upper elevation starting zones.