Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We looked at a skier triggered soft slab avalanche that was triggered in Toledo Chute yesterday. The south and southeast slopes don't possess the weak faceted snow like the north end the compass, but with the new 10-12" of snow available for transport and sustained NW winds, be on the lookout for areas wind drifted snow. </p>
While the primary concern is still the persistent weak layer, be thinking about SE protected terrain with signs of wind drifted snow.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The early season facets at the ground still exist on northwest, north, and northeast facing slopes. While this is the problem that will hurt or kill someone, we did not primarily look at that today traveling primarily on S/SE aspects. Stuck our shovels in on the NW aspect at 10,000 and found the same structure, facets at the ground with a slab on top. </p> <p> </p> <p>A recent soft slab avalanche was triggered on a SE aspect in Toledo chute. We went up to look at the recent activity, other signs of wind drifted snow, current wind speeds, and snow available for transport. Winds were sustained moderate at ridgetops from the NW, and we were able to find protected areas near ridge tops and gulley's possessing signs of wind drifted snow. The snow surface is still soft, with 10-12" of snow from the past weekend available for transport. Simply look for signs of wind drifted snow which looks rounded and smooth.</p> <p> </p> <p>Below is a photo of the Toledo Chute avalanche.</p>
10"-12" of soft snow from the weekend storm, rime mixed in with precipitation particles. Still fast, and fun. Areas near ridge-lines and protected SE terrain had noticeable wind effect on the surface.
Also found 2-3mm SH on the skin in below 9500' on SE aspects.
Photo of 2-3mm SH.