Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Stomped around a bit and did not manage to get results on test slopes and no cracking or collapsing in wind affected terrain. Noted no natural avalanches, those visibility was limited. Triggered one small (D1) soft slab on a 42 degree rollover in a N facing gully around 7700ft a few hundred feet skiers left of the main Dead Tree shots; see avalanche observation.</p> <p>With some care toward surface instabilities, powder conditions will probably be pretty nice tomorrow in the sheltered terrain or on low elevation slopes that have been refreshed with dense and creamy. </p>
Snowpack
Plenty of snow was left from the Sunday/Monday system on the way up this morning, probably around 6" or so. Protected zones had nice powder, with snow density and elevation inversely related, and graupel in the mix as high as at least 7800ft. Above 7400ft or so surface wind effects were evident, ranging from a bit of wind skin to breakable crust to supportable and stiff including the early stages of sastrugi. Above 8000ft wind effects were widespread with few zones completely spared.
A bit surprised to find that even the usually protected northerlies near Dead Tree were wind affected, with a breakable crust on top of the powder. Best powder riding was in the most sheltered terrain between about 7000 and 7500ft. Low elevation zones that had been refreshed also skied nicely with dense, creamy, and fast surface conditions.