Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Several slopes in the Whitney area did go through some natural avalanche activity, these were mainly on north through east facing. Some minor cracking of fresh wind drifts where the winds continue to blow off the ridge lines. </p>
A couple photos of recent natural avalanche activity on north and northeast facing slopes.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With so much new snow to blow around, the wind drifted snow problem is the main concern. Winds from the south, southwest and even some southeast have been fairly steady the last few days and slopes on the north side of the compass have been getting heavily wind loaded.</p> <p>With the snow pack over four feet deep in places it is much harder to trigger an avalanche on the early season weak sugary snow near the ground, but where slopes have stayed thin or slopes that have avalanched earlier this winter those are places to avoid. There are some weak layers buried in the middle of the snow pack that might be reactive form the recent snow and wind. I was getting mixed results in snow pits where this weakness is buried two to three feet deep. </p>
Another few inches overnight and great fresh powder throughout the area. The ridge lines continue to get worked by winds and some good size cornices are starting to build.