Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure in areas traveled was confined to the density inversion in the upper layers. As a result of this slight density inversion, it was easy to initiate sluffing and cracking in the upper 6 to 8 inches of the new snow. Todays travel was limited to mid elevation, mostly protected, moderate angle terrain. When venturing on small 35 degree plus slopes, the sluffing and a couple of inconsequential small soft slabs were initiated. As stated above the intense winds at upper elevations and ridgelines appeared capable of building sensitive soft and hard slabs. From morning on Wednesday to morning on Thursday 8 inches of snow fell at 8000 feet in BCC. During the day and by 1100 hours another 9 inches fell. Storm totals at 8000 feet are now at least 30 inches. Travel in the Snowbird periphery appeared to have storm totals well over 40 inches. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Despite not traveling in much terrain that was receiving wind loading and slab development, it was obvious that wind slabs were the most significant and hazardous avalanche problem of the day. Even at 1000 hours on Thursday, before the precip picked up for the day, cracking was easy to initiate on southerly facing slopes with slope angles of 35 degrees. With the abundance of snow available for transport, this problem appears to be increasing in likelihood as well as size and distribution. </p> <p>Storm slab appears to be confined to areas that are at least receiving just enough wind to help consolidate the new snow into soft slab development. With the abundance of new snow and it's overall light density, long running new snow avalanches were obviously possible by late in the day on Thursday. Loose Snow Dry Avalanches were more the rule today in the mid elevation protected areas traveled. </p> <p>Cornices appear to be growing once again and should be suspect. </p> <p>After observing the Deep Slab release in the Brighton area on Wednesday, similar steep/rocky/northerly facing terrain may still have weak structure well over a meter down. And with this new significant load large triggers like the cornice fall from yesterday may still be able to help trigger some of these very isolated giants. In the areas receiving loading from the wind, naturals may be possible overnight on Thursday and into the early morning hours. </p> <p>Due to the high PI, the avalanche danger rating for the day up until mid afternoon in mid elevation terrain appeared to be Considerable. And, it may have spiked to High later in the afternoon when the precip was into it's fourth or fifth hour of S4 plus intensity. Upper elevation terrain would appear to have been in the High category throughout the day. Tomorrow looks to be more of the same, and if the winds gain strength, then High would be the call for the day, and this will likely be much more widespread than on most of Thursday. </p>
Todays conditions were getting almost too deep for low angle riding. Trail breaking was challenging. And, the latest burst of precip from Wednesday night into Thursday mid morning was a bit denser than Wednesdays light density snow.