Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2926 m
- Slope Angle
- 26°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The main red flags are the presence of old faceted snow (PWL) near the ground with a recent heavy load of snow containing 1 to 1.4 inches of water.</p>
A kindergartener would tell us that if we pile big blocks on top of small blocks, it's unstable. That's how I interpret profiles like the one above. Facets seem like they are very very slowly gaining hardness. Stability tests like the ECT are steadily having higher and higher scores. So, we're moving in the right direction, but with the recent loading and poor structure and potential size of avalanches, I think conditions on north facing slopes remains dangerous.
I also think there were some natural avalanches today or last night. The trouble is they will be hard to find, especially since there weren't many people riding today and visibilty was bad.
First photo below is the pit graphed above.
Second photo is an east aspect at 9600 feet that lacks the weak snow. The snowpack is right side up - meaning that its harder near the bottom and softer near the top.
Third photo shows snowpack depth - coverage is EXCELLENT which gives us tons of riding options. South aspects have great coverage, great powder, and much much safer conditions.
It's not deep, super light powder, but it still rides really well. Notice how the sled stays on top of the snow. However, there's plenty of soft snow to make it fun.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See discussion below.</p> <p>New snow seems very well bonded</p>
Dense, supportable, soft powder