Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
Started our tour from Mutal Dell around 0830 this morning under a ground cloud layer and temps in the teens. Passing through 8000', we got above the clouds and it was clear, with temps in the low teens, and a light breeze. Above 10,000', winds were out of the N in the 20-40mph range. Moving above 9000' we encountered a very stout and variable wind slab that was widespread. This windslab varied in thickness between 1-10cm and showed no propagation. It sat upon a fist hard layer around 15-30cm deep. The base of the snowpack was knife hard and had an unknown depth. Many hand tests and ski cuts (and a heard of mountain goats) showed no reactivity in the windslab. The cornices in this area are getting big. The one above The Grunge is massive. We stayed far back from ridgelines.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind transport is clear and abundant above 9600'. The N winds were creating moderate wind transport at and above 9600'. Skiing Cold Fusion, there was stiff wind slab that was very locked in from being blasted by the winds for the last couple days; no propagation was observed. I would be very suspicious of any sheltered areas and E-S-W facing terrain above 9000' as we could see this terrain being actively top and cross loaded.</p> <p>Cornices are starting to get huge. Stay well back from ridgelines as with the above-average snow depth, the boundary between ridge and cornice is very hard to define.</p>