Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We were finding evidence of poor snowpack structure on northerly aspects above ~8500. Below that there was little evidence of persistent weak layer (faceted snow) down near the ground. Where we were finding it below 8500' it was shallow ~5 cms and damp grains.</p> <p>Above 8500' different story with 25-40 cms of very weak faceted snow near the ground. </p>
Photos of pit and pit profile showing poor structure of strong snow over weak snow. This was on a north aspect at 8900'
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure remains a lingering concern. Some pits were ECTN/ECTX, but we also got full propagation on one pit ECTP28 failing down 90 cms on a layer of faceted snow underneath a decomposing crust. (Photo/profile below.) No collapsing or other signs of instability - just a 4 or 5 lemon snowpack structure. Team of four UAC forecasters in agreement the recent load of snow/wind/water was too much of a stress on this persistent weak layer and we were all avoiding being on or below anything steeper than 30 degrees on a northwest through east aspect at the mid and upper elevations. </p>
Snow surface was very low-density with denser storm snow underneath. HS above 8500' was ~1.2 meters (4') Some wind-affect noted up high along the ridges, with cornices along east-facing ridgelines.