Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
Winds were the issue today! Wind affect along exposed ridges and open bowls, and even down into mid-elevation terrain. The only reactivity I could get were fresh cornices, but the wind slabs were very hard (pencil-hard) and unreactive. My only concern is these drifts are now sitting on top of lower-density snow (strong-over-weak) and it may allow a rider to get well out onto a slope before avalanching.
Dug 3 different pits on southerly aspects, and 1 pit on a northerly aspect, all between 9-10k' and all were ECTN, failing within the top 50 cms within the recent storm snow.
I left the mountains before snowfall began, but i would think the snowfall Tuesday afternoon and evening will greatly improve riding conditions for Wednesday, especially on lower-angled terrain.
Photos showing:
- Etching of the snow surface from southwesterly winds
- Scouring of windward aspects
- Winds at mid to low elevations in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Wind drifts today were quite stubborn to initiate. My biggest concern is that the drifts were sitting on top of lower-density snow, as shown below</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The stout wind slabs may allow someone to get well out onto a slope before fracturing.</p> <p>Existing structure of (1) facets/crusts on southerly aspects and (2) weak snow in thinner snowpack areas on northerly aspects remains a concern given the wind and significant water amounts. Stability tests today were showing these weak layers unreactive.</p>
Who invited the wind to our powder party? Still decent ski conditions out of wind-affected terrain at the mid-elevations. In wind-affected terrain, pencil-hard wind slabs generally 10-30 cms (4-12") thick with some up to 45 cms (18") thick.