Quick report
Similar to our obs last week, the snowpack is <70cm and faceted in most terrain: homogeneously weak below treeline with more variability from wind events above treeline. Slab formation is rare, but at upper elevations, there were new soft drifts up to 12" thick, and some old, hard drifts lurking in a few leeward features from old wind events. The location of these older slabs was disguised by recent snowfall, but you could feel them by probing. They also didn't produce any signs of instability underfoot, but the recent activity on the east face of Gothic and the remote-triggered slab on Baldy suggest those older slabs are still a problem or are becoming more reactive.
No signs of instability underfoot, but easily ski cut fresh wind slabs.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Light drifting above 12,000' continued today. Clear skies all morning, with overcast skies moving in by about 2:30 p.m.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 2
- Aspect
- NE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 12000 ft
We intentionally ski-cut a few shallow wind slabs up to 10" deep, all harmless in size, on cross-drifted features facing NE. There was notable avalanche activity on the east face of Gothic that involved some stepdowns and gouging into old snow layers. (documented in a previous ob)