Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>One fairly recent natural avalanche on a steep, thin and rocky east facing slope was a good clue that this type of terrain is still capable of avalanching. There was minor wind drifting today in this location with the loose surface snow. </p>
It was a great morning for a ride up the highway with lots of recent powder snow and good visibility.
I traveled by the Steiner Weather Station and it may need an extension on the snow sensor before it gets buried and there is still lots of winter left.
This natural avalanche on a steep thin and rocky east facing slope in the Ruth Lake area is a great clue to the type of terrain where a persistent weak layer avalanche is possible. It generally felt like a moderate hazard today with some specific terrain that would have a considerable hazard as the recent natural avalanche verifies.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Kind of feels like the persistent weak layer is decreasing in danger where it is deep. I dug a pit with 165cm of total snow depth which is quite amazing for this area. However, in terrain where the snow pack has stayed thin and rocky it is still a good possibility of triggering an avalanche and more snow and wind for this week will be another stress test. </p> <p>There is enough loose surface snow to drift and develop soft and hard wind slabs as a series of storms move into the area. </p>
Great soft settled snow with a deep snow pack and some wind affected conditions up on the higher ridge lines. There was some fresh surface hoar today that was getting blown around where it was exposed to the wind, but staying protected in the sheltered areas. Might be something that is reactive if it gets buried with the next series of storms.