Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Experienced skier from a party skiing USA bowl heard one collapse, I didn't catch on which aspect and elevation band. Also, on a rollover on the steep NE slopes of West Willow we noted tensile cracks, likely limited to new snow. Didn't descend to check!</p>
Keep your eyes on the video: Snowpack revelation.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Bottom facets must be <em>so anxious</em> for a real load, but in the Willow/Beartrap region the light snow isn't cutting it. No wind, not enough water weight? ECT on East-facing 9200' propagated in facets just below the crust on 12 and 7 taps, and at SW 8800 shovel shear tests failed in the same facet layer. It seems a good blow and stiff windslabs would tear the place down, but today we just tiptoed through soft powder. </p>
Snow could be characterized as: Exceptionally light. Blower. Kick-turn-without-surfacing. Right side up. Perhaps precarious?