Snowpack

Observation: Cutler Ridge

Jonathan MeltonOgden
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Quick report

Red Flags
Wind Loading

Dug a small pit east facing at 7100'. HS 110cm, about 50cm of soft, fist hardness snow on top of ~57cm of four finger. I didn't see obvious evidence of a facet layer on the ground. The skiing at low elevations was excellent, if still a bit brushy.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Wind was moving a lot of snow from ~7500' up. I didn't see any wind slab formation yet, but only went as high as 8000'. It looked like sastrugi was forming at higher elevations. Photo shows wind blown snow at 8000'. Possible small avalache crown on a east facing spot on the ridgeline at ~9300', but it was hard to be sure from my vantage point. Possibly cross-loading.</p>