Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 3048 m
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Drifts from yesterday were easily avoidable (actually fun route finding - follow the scalloped snow and avoid the smooth rounded snow - lots of pole push tests to check for snow depth/slab cohesion). Plenty of new drifting going on along the upper ridgelines and on terrain features in the mid elevations. However, any new drifts were still soft and shallow in the morning. By the time I exited a little before noon I was starting to get a few to start cracking out around my skis on test slopes. Nothing major, and not moving, but suspect they were larger/more sensitive in the afternoon. Wind did keep wet activity at bay up high, but things were just starting to bake down low at noon. These two things (wind slabs, wet activity) to be the main issues tomorrow as well. East aspects again the most suspect.</p>
Pretty solid snowpack in places I poked between 9,500 and 10,000, a welcome contrast to the thinner more faceted snowpacks in the mid elevations where I have traveled most this year. Main pit on a NE facing slope at 10,000' near the lake was very solid, with no real issues other than shears in the new snow above the suncrust from last week.
Pics below, wind drifting off Red Baldy early, wind building swells on Reb Baldy later in the day.
Snowpack
About 8 inches of snow from Sunday's storm in upper White Pine, which had dried out a bit under the clear skies last night, medium density. Despite the strong NW winds yesterday, still good skiing in places that were not getting hammered by the SW winds today.