Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure validated in multiple hasty pits as well as an ECTP 11 at 8900 feet on a north facing slope with failure noted in all locations as buried SH. All sites were similar in how they were in protected terrain. Along with this, there appeared to be NCF issues as indicated by sudden results from a failure in facets located below a thin M/F crust on a westerly aspect at 8600. Cracking was observed in isolated upper wind loaded terrain. Wind loading was observed mostly in the upper elevations on exposed ridge lines and connected terrain. Of note, bonding to the old snow/new snow interface was good with the first 8 cm of the event being very dense and was created with substantial winds and warm temperatures. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Poor visibility limited the opportunity to view if there were any wind loaded naturals. Despite this, it was very likely that there were some avalanches on steep N through E facing terrain in the upper elevations. Forecast for increasing winds overnight along with additional snowfall most likely with escalate this issue. </p> <p>Reports of SH avalanches in the area validate the potential for PWL problems. Along with this, other buried PWL's may be considered suspect, and these include the January 5th, and possibly mid-December as well basal facets in outlier areas. Additional loading from wind and new snow most likely will increase the potential for this problem. </p> <p> </p> <p>The danger today appeared to Considerable in upper elevation wind loaded terrain with mid elevation terrain Moderate in very steep terrain due to Loose Dry and small Storm Slabs.</p>
Widespread wind scouring and sastrugi in the upper elevation exposed terrain. The first 8 cm of new snow came in dense and very wet, and the subsequent layers consisted of grauple and mixed forms. Riding was fun, surfy and creamy with ski penetration limited to the upper 10 to 15 cm. The best riding was out of the wind zones and below 9500.