Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>As is often the case on the east side of the highway, the snow pack is generally shallow and has some more pronounced weak snow near the ground. I was able to get an isolated column of snow to propagate a crack with moderate effort in two different snow pits. I think the possibility of triggering an avalanche in this area is a bit more likely given the weaker snow structure. </p>
Had some good visibility early this morning and noticed the snow coverage in the Mill Creek area is fairly decent for this early in the winter. A few stumps and rocks, but overall a good base and not too punchy.
Dug two different snow pits, with one in a shallow location( around two feet in depth) and one where the snow depth was just over 3' (100cm). In both pits, an isolated column of snow would propagate a crack with moderate effort, a crack needs to travel or propagate for an avalanche to happen. I think you could ride a lot of the terrain in this area, but once a person finds a shallow weak spot its possible to trigger an avalanche.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Still cannot ignore the weak snow pack structure and it was more evident today in the Mill Creek area, where I could get crack propagation in both a shallow and a deeper snow pit. It was taking medium effort for the weak layer to fail, but given a thin spot on a slope the possibility of triggering an avalanche seem more possible in this zone. </p> <p>I was surprised to see very little wind issues out in this area, the recent snow appear to have fallen with hardly a breath of wind where I traveled. Along the higher ridge lines there might be some lingering wind drifts and soft slabs that might be reactive to a person. </p>
Maybe around 6-8" new snow from the recent storm and very little wind with this snowfall. Very nice riding and turning conditions with a good base and pretty good coverage in the Mill Creek area for this early in the winter.