Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2774 m
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Boot pen 100cm/full pack, pit below NW ridge of Red top at NW 9,050' HS 100cm, CTM12 SP & CTM13 SP down 20cm on 1-2mm FC, ECTN11 same layer. CTM16 SC and CTM14 SC down 50cm on 20201211 FCsf/FCxr, ECTN16 same layer. Crust below the 20201211 layer is decomposing and variable, not a consistent layer. The slab on top of the 20201211 layer seems to have weakened preventing propagation, slab broke vertically upon failure. Another pit at 9,400 N provided similar results HS 95cm. Cracking and collapsing not as prevalent today as other recent outings. I will be continuing to monitor the 20201222 FC layer down about 20cm if we get additional load or wind slab forming on top.</p>
Slab broke vertical with ECTN result down 50cm
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Spatial variability in the slab seems high. The slab seems to have broken down preventing propagation in some areas, more protected areas in the mid/upper and mid elevations. The 20201211 FCsf appear to be rounding. I don't think the slab has weakened enough everywhere to prevent propagation. It seems as though there is high spatial variability with the slab and it may not be connected as I thought. As recent avalanche activity shows, there is not a slab or enough slab until there is to produce an avalanche. The nature of the variability and the speed at which a slab can form with wind, warming etc still has me skeptical of steeper slopes in the mid and high elev Norths.</p> <p>Did not observe blowing snow today but there is some AST and winds in upper elev/ridglines may be forming wind slab. Wind slab on top of 20201222 FC down about 20cm may produce results.</p>
Soft snow around. The old tracks are pretty firm.