Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2957 m
- Slope Angle
- 25°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind loading - Heavy winds in the upper elevations were moving snow around. Some features may get cross-loaded. Limited cracking, mostly on east aspects, soft, minor, less than expected. Collapsing mostly on east aspects, some moderately large, very limited associated cracking. One large collapse on a sheltered west aspect. We were surprised at the lack of collapsing and cracking today.</p> <p>Depth Hoar/facets on all aspects traveled today (big surprise....)</p>
No photos, a bit damp and blustery.....
A good day for the Goretex pants.
We were treating the lack of collapsing and cracking on west aspects as a false stable.
Ski penetration:
Most west aspects 6-8"
East aspects >1'
Although we traveled as per High Danger, we did not see enough proof to call it that. I would assume with additional wind tonight, the danger could likely be high in the alpine tomorrow.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We traveled as per high danger, this included spreading out when walking across the meadows below the Tri Chutes. Backed off an east facing area after a few collapses.</p>
1" new today, combination of stellers, graupel and needles, slightly damp below 8000'.
I was expecting a snowpack much deeper than observed along the PC ridge and Mid BCC. In most sheltered areas, the HS is only a few inches deeper than other areas, generally 24-28". My snow profile was a bit of an anomaly and appears to have some wind deposited snow.
West aspects are more supportable that others, a bit less of a wallow breaking trail and no punching into the facets (the exception being very protected mid-elevation west aspects).
Snow surface is very slightly damp below 8000'