Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3048 m
- Slope Angle
- 20°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Only minor red flags observed in my travels today. The snowpack above 9,800' on the shady aspects has some weak faceted snow near the ground with a 4F to 1F slab above it. In my snow pit tests the weak faceted snow near the ground is not as weak as it typically can be early season, the warm temperatures have likely helped to settle and slow down the faceting? A few very minor wind slabs that would crack out with a persons weight, but no real issues with these mainly along the higher ridge lines.</p>
1. The riding is still limited to roads and trails and a few meadows that are free of hazards. 2. In upper Whitney Basin the snow depth is about 18-20" and there is some supportable riding, but there are rocks and stumps to watch-out for.
1. Even in the higher elevations, the snow pack is thin and a small slide would take a person through some nasty rocks and rough terrain. 2. A few minor wind slabs up high that only involved the surface snow once they cracked-out under the weight of a person.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The snowpack structure is somewhat a red flag, but the mild weather has helped to settle and hopefully strengthen the pack. None of my snow pit tests were too alarming even given the early season. </p> <p>A few shallow wind slabs were observed along the higher ridge lines on slopes facing north through northeast. These would crack under the weight of a rider and only presented a small hazard. </p>
Still thin and rocky at low and mid-elevations, but above about 9,800', the snow conditions are quite good, but still on the thin side. The warm temperatures have given the snowpack some body and supportability although the coverage is only about 18-20" around the higher terrain.