Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind was the big red flag today. North winds have deposited a lot of snow on south aspects over the last few days and the winds were blowing snow around when we were out. Winds have scoured the high alpine peaks bare of snow on some aspects and have crossloaded many slopes. Poor snow structure on south facing slopes and in general.</p>
Pit on wind loaded south facing slope at 10,200 ft. CT11-15. No propagation on ECT. ECT reflects strong bridging but structure and CT tests were disconcerting especially coupled with the wind loading that was going on.
Hand pits on non wind loaded slopes showed multiple melt/freeze crusts sandwiching weak faceted snow.
Not a great photo but here is a quick hand pit on a south facing slope showing melt/freeze crust / facet sandwiches. Facets were very weak and loose.
Wind scoured NE shoulder of Bald Mt.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Strong winds from the north this week have loaded and cross loaded many south facing slopes. Trend should be toward decreasing danger if the wind dies down.</p> <p>South facing slopes where we were traveling showed poor structure with multiple weak layers. On south facing slopes the sun should heal those instabilities relatively quickly...as soon as the clouds give way. Same to decreasing danger</p>
It snowed about an inch of light density snow during the day. Old snow surface was still soft on all aspects with an occasional melt/freeze crust on south faces. Even south facing slopes were holding soft snow. Ski penetration - 6". I noticed some riming on the snow that was falling.