Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2865 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Many of red flag conditions are present in the snowpack but not very touchy or reactive. It's also far better than most years. For example, there has been a lot of recent snow but on many aspects it seems relatively well bonded. I found some burried near surface facets in north and west facing pit but got limited results in my pits. I stomped on some wind drifts but didn't get cracking. </p>
Also dug a pit in on a west facing slope in Bear Trap. Overall nicely increasing density profile with no results from ECT. I did find some rounding NSF approximately 50cms down. Three mm surface hoar laying down on snow surface (photo below). I suspect this will be destroyed by the upcoming wet and windy storm.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Although generally not very reactive in snowpit tests and many slopes have been skied, burred NSF are present in places and could be a factor with 2" of water forecast.</p> <p>With lots of new snow in the forecast, instability within and between the new and old snow may be an issue. Winds + wet snow may rapidly create new storm slabs.</p>
Snow had settled since earlier in the week and was dense and surfy. All aspects had pretty good snow with very limited sun or wind crust.
Surface snow was faceting slightly. Surface hoar was growing in protected areas.