Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2865 m
- Slope Angle
- 31°
ECT 12 Q2 with variable propagation at eight inches in depth. The top 8 inches were settling new snow - fist hardness-- did not observe the rime layer that has been discussed. The next 2 feet was consolidating snow at 4 finger hardness -- We saw no faceted layers in the top two feet that failed. Total depth was 1 meter and the last 10 inches was depth hoar sitting on the ground.
structure lemons A weak layer less than a meter deep. Weak layer thickness less than 10 cm
red flags observed recent avalanches ridgeline winds (10-20mph) rapidly increasing temperatures
Hiked up main approach to the edge of the gully, then gained ridgeline into Beartrap aspens to get to the beartrap-Willow ridgeline. Skied the aspen shot and out below gully.
Snow quality= a variable 10 smiles at ridge line and a full 10 smiles in wind sheltered areas.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>only seen below top eight inches of settling snow. </p> <p>Only inferred from seeing transport into south(ish) facing terrain. We did not cross south facing terrain today. The NW sides were wind scoured and saw variable cross-loading as the wind funneled through this drainage. Ridge lines facing south to SE has most cross loading.</p>
Top eight inches of snow was loose (but settling) on top of a 1 inches wind slab that sat on top of maybe a foot or so of a graupel new snow mix (very loose). This sat on a compact slab of 12 inches before the last 10 inches of depth hoar.