Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2621 m
- Slope Angle
- 23°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The ridge was wind scoured on the West facing side and had loaded the East aspect. In my pit, the PWL was present but was unreactive to a Compression Test and Extended Column Test.</p>
I traveled to the GC Bowls area to observe how the PWL has changed and how the cold temperatures and wind have effected the snowpack. The PWL was unreactive in my Compression Test and Extended Column Test, although it is still there. The air temperature in my location was 5 F which led to a large temperature gradient in my pit and weakening of the upper snowpack. There was clear wind loading on the East side of the ridge line with the West side being scoured in many places. I was pleased to see the PWL be unreactive and gaining strength in my snow pit, but with the weakening of the upper snowpack it makes me worried for our next storm (if it ever comes).
Photos:
1) Wind scouring on the West facing side of the ridgeline
2) Melt-freeze crust while traveling up on a West/SouthWest aspect.
3) My skis found the wind slab on the East facing terrain
Snowpack
While traveling up the West/Southwest face, there was a melt-freeze crust below a dusting of snow in all but the most sheltered terrain. In isolated terrain that was not effected by the wind or sun, the snow remained soft.
The East facing bowl had variable snow conditions, from powder to wind crust.