Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Dug two pits on adjacent steep slopes with minimal consequence, both at 8,970'. One was west-facing, 37 degree, and the other was east facing, 38 degree. Both had a stout crust about 90 cm down, so stout that the east-facing was hard to shovel through. Total depth on each was in the 210-220 cm range. The west facing was ECT 22, the east-facing ECT 11, both shearing with energy on a 5 cm thick crust that was 90 cm down, or about 130 cm from the ground. Agreed that if you are looking for trouble, best bet is steep east-facing. Would expect that steep east-facing to be problematic Monday morning, especially given the forecast for 30+ mph gusts from the west much of the night. </p>
Snowpack
Measured 6-8 inches of storm snow by 3 P.M. in mid-slope protected areas, far more than I was seeing at the snow cam stakes. Once off the ridge, the snow quickly became joyous fluff. Along the ridge, it was showing a wind coating, but not breakable and not terrible to ski. Exiting up some gentle west-facing at 5 P.M., the snow as starting to dampen the fine powder. I suspect the sun was out long enough to affect all open west-facing. But north, east and even south should be fun in the morning.