Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
New snow of only about an inch today at the resort. Maybe 3-4 higher up above 8000'. The visibility was low. Noticed some cracking in the wind drifted snow and cornices in the usual places. Skied a North and NE slope at 8800. Hard rain crusts were punchy beneath our skis. Skin up went well without any red flags. 2nd run on east slope was rocky and we noticed a bare wind stripped slope and the top. 2nd skin up I observed a heart stopping thud in the track (4th time on slope). It is vital to be practicing safe travel and make sure beacons are on and working. Considering the slope angles we skied about 32-35 degrees today and was spooky considering the growling of the snowpack. Slopes are variable and thin.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Sure signs of wind drifted snow including chalky snow and cornices in the usual places although a higher level NE slope had been stripped of snow to the surface and deposited up slope. Wind in the afternoon 15-20 mph.</p> <p>Sucker crusts, wind drifts, sigms of warming and rain observed today with some layers being slick and some breakable. Cracking in wind drifted snow. One notable collapse see below.</p>