Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The recent avalanches observed in the previous 48 hours continues to provide a lack of strong confidence for the green light riding that was in place earlier in the week. Regardless, no new avalanche activity was observed today. The poor snowpack structure that was observed in the Brighton Perimeter where the HS is the greatest was confined to the upper levels of the snowpack, and specifically the top 24 cm. Snowpit tests indicated CTE at 18 and 24 cm down with the weak layer being perserved stellars from earlier in the latest event at 18, and the old snow new snow interface at 24 cm down. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Despite the lack of this as an evident concern in the areas traveled today, the presence of poor snowpack structure with mid and lower level weak layers still remains the number one concern throughout the rest of the Range; and with the forecast for excessive SWE for the next 72 hours, we appear to be heading into yet another significant avalanche cycle. </p> <p>Overnight winds are forecast to accelerate and this concern should escalate the potential for widespread wind slab activity at the upper elevations. </p> <p>Danger observed in strictly the areas traveled today was Low, but likely Moderate elsewhere. And, as the PI and winds gather strength on Sunday, the danger should escalate to Considerable. </p>
Mid elevations appeared to warm from the solar, but nothing significant was noted with regard to excessive dampness above 9000 feet. The winds appeared to keep the wet loose under control. Exellent settled powder even on the off aspects and low angle slopes. The wind exposed terrain was adversely effected from the previous days W and WNW winds and wind sculpting was evident.