Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We saw a lot of variety today as noted in the snow conditions. In addition, there was a small point release off of some trees that did entrain more snow (see photo).</p>
Photo 1 is the large surface hoar we found during our climb of the SW ridge. The photo was of surface hoar on a branch, but the snow surface had the same surface hoar.
Photo 2 is the small point release slide the entrained additional snow on the SW aspect.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Up high, a wind slab would be my primary concern. If the winds pick up, this will most likely increase in danger.</p> <p>There was a lot of evidence of past slides that appeared to be both during the Christmas cycle and also after the SE wind event.</p>
We had a variety of snow conditions.
We had significant surface hoar formations Mid elevations had a suncrust. Based on the greenhousing happening today, I assume this was from a similar greenhouse effect from Saturday The high ridges had a week wind slab that was very prone to cracking and breaking. This wind slab was only about 1" in depth. We had a significant collapse on a NW aspect. This was a significant whoomph with a noticeable drop in the snowpack.