Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
The storm snow didn't seem enough to overload the weaker, pre-existing snow at the new snow/old snow interface, and that you needed a denser slab of wind-drifted snow.
We remotely-triggered an avalanche on a steep, SE aspect at 9300' (submitted as a separate observation)
Pit below shows ECTN in the low teens, failing at the new snow/old snow interface down ~20-30 cms. (ECTN means the fracture did not propagate across the slab.)
Second image is cracking in wind-blown snow along an exposed ridgeline.
Video describing the type of slopes that are currently wind-loaded, and should be avoided.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Avalanches seem to require some wind-drifting to give the slab some cohesiveness. We remotely triggered an avalanche on a steep, SE aspect at 9300'. This failed on a layer of weaker faceted snow underneath a thin 1-2 mm sun crust.</p> <p> </p> <p>Remotely-triggered slides are an indication that it may take a bit of time for the problem to settle out.</p>
Generally 25 cms (10") storm snow in mid-BCC.