Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>As has been described, two layers of PWL are of concern. The uppermost, buried 30cm deep in my travels along the PC ridge, was surprisingly tame; with ECTX on a clear line of new snow plus a touch of wind above last week's weak recrystallized snow. I wouldn't trust it; I am sure there were more than a few naturals in this layering the last 36 hours.</p> <p> The other - significant - issue is this storm's loading to trigger avalanches in primarily repeater slopes - as we saw with South Monitor Sunday morning. Trigger unknown. Ridgetops do not harbor huge cornices...so perhaps this was a natural from the strong winds and water. </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>As mentioned above, hard slabs now complement the soft slabs though none cracked out today with provocation.</p>
Nothing like wind to wreak havoc. Pockets of hard and soft slab abound; many windward exposed slopes scoured down to a crust. A thin rain/drizzle crust extends to the ridgetops.