Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
Route was up Lees Fork to Reynolds with a Mill D exit. South aspects were dry prior to the recent storms, so there are no PWL issues. Southeast aspects up to 9,500' are shallow (less than a meter) with different facet/crust combinations. On one pit on a SE aspect at 9,000', the block would fracture upon isolation, failing in weak facets underneath a deteriorating crust. The setup of an incredibly poor snowpack structure is in place and in areas with some wind-loading, we are seeing natural, and human-triggered (as well as remotely-triggered) soft slab avalanches failing on the PWL (December Drought Layer). With strong winds and heavy snowfall forecast this evening, we should have a slab distributed more evenly across most aspects.
Photos of snowpack on SE aspect and wind-drifting on leeward NW aspects from SW winds.
Video showing block failing upon isolation.
My watch has been showing this warning daily.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We just need s slab on top of the PWL.</p> <p>Recent and fresh wind drifts are sensitive and currently seem to be the key to making the PWL reactive. </p>
Fresh wind pockets along Reynolds shoulder ridgeline from SW winds.