Wing Ridge

Winds out of the South, Southeast, and Southwest starting on Monday transported snow onto leeward aspects along mid and upper-elevation ridgelines and open slopes.  We encountered wind stiffened snow at 7,000' on an east aspect in an open meadow.  The wind stiffened snow collapsed under our skis.   We were able to easily cut small test slopes that were along ridgelines on east aspects.   We noted 3 natural wind slab avalanches below corniced ridgelines over the last two days. 

(3) D1-D1.5 Wind slabs released naturally over the last two days at wing ridge. This morning, we encountered wind-stiffened snow at an elevation of 7,000'. Areas in flat meadows produced isolated collapses. Small test slopes along ridgelines at upper elevations produced cracking.

We noted wind slab formation along most East and North upper elevation ridgelines.   In our pit (NW 7800'), we found a right-side up snowpack structure.  My greatest concern exists around windslabs that have preserved weak, sugary snow below them.  

A thin melt freeze crust was at the 2/8 interface, 18 centimeters from the surface. 

Graupel was present at the 1/3 interface, 55 centimeters from the surface.  

There was no propagation in the Extended Column Test in this location.