Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading
No significant ECT results. Two things to note though:
1. The surface hoar that formed over the recent high pressure is buried under the new snow. It did not get destroyed, at least where I was. I stepped off the existing skin track on a test slope and could immediately feel my skis slipping. Bad sign. It is not standing up but the crystals laying flat are still weak and can stay preserved for a long time. (photo 1)
2. There is still weak snow on top of the December rain/ice crust. I was amazed to find large intact graupel above the crust along with small faceted crystals. This persistent weak layer could be activated (yet again) with a heavy load. (photo 2)
Snowpack
some graupel mixed in