Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Interesting out there today. Recent small avalanches noted along the Silver Fork Headwall, some cornice triggered, others mid slope. Didn't appear than any broke into new snow. The cornices have grown substantially in the last two days and are very sensitive. Lots of cracking and a few collapses noted. Very obvious wind loading. Sean Z.W. pictures give a accurate visual aid of how the winds were reacting today. Observed winds blowing snow from the west and 100' up slope blowing snow from the east. </p>
WATCH THE CORNICES. It is not ok to drop large cornices on slopes triggering avalanches with poor visibility to confirm that no one from another party is involved.
Few pictures below of the building cornices, blowing snow, and a great example of partners giving the cornice plenty of room(well right of obvious signs of solid ground). They break back further than expected and can suck you in and cause a larger avalanche.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Thick, getting deep. I can see some wind slabs being up to 4' deep in places, cracking noted and some smaller natural activity. The new very soft growing cornices are all a major concern for users. Give them space and don't intentionally trigger them. They could cause larger wind slab, or worse yet the PWL.</p> <p>Interested to see if this wind and load brings the PWL back to life. The central core that I could see today did not have any observed avalanches breaking into old snow. Totally different story on the PC Ridgeline...</p>
Snow is upside down and wind affected. South had mix of wind crust (possibly MF/sun?/greenhousing?), wind blown funk and some noce powder on the lower angle slightly protected slopes. North's were holding upside down thick snow. Hard to tell how much new with the wild winds. Open ENE had wind crust.