Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Generally quiet conditions as far as red flags other than the moderate to strong winds on the exposed ridges. Some soft minor wind slabs were developing this afternoon as light snow moved into the area. In this mid-elevation zone the snow pack was two to three feet deep and I did not get any alarming test results. Possibly a weak layer or two above and around the x-mas eve rain crust that was showing up in a couple shovel shear tests. </p>
The winds have been working over Double Hill as well as other higher exposed terrain.
A snow pit from the Whitney Basin around the mid-elevation zone with the snow depth in this area around two to three feet.
The lower elevations are a bit grim right now and there is a fair amount of pavement exposed for the first mile or so on Highway 150.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Strong winds, dense snow to start out and heavy snow forecasted will likely stress the snowpack where the rain crust is thin and the snow pack is a bit shallow.</p> <p>Winds were on the increase today with soft wind slabs developing on the ridges and starting to get into lower protected areas. I noticed how the sustained strong winds have worked across the face of Double Hill, exposing the bare ground. </p>
There was damp snow to start the day at the trailhead, with lighter density snow and improved riding conditions with elevation. The snow coverage is getting better in the Whitney area and I was not as nervous to venture off the summer roads.