Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2652 m
- Slope Angle
- 35°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No other red flags except the poor snowpack structure that has been in place most of the season. </p>
HS is about 100 cm. Weak overall - getting off of skis sinks you deep into old facets.
Two layers of concern:
1. Obvious buried surface hoar at 72cm. Reactive with CT 13.
2. Not so obvious weak, older facets at 39cm. CT 16. ECTP 30.
(Also had the entire column collapse upon isolation at the ground for initial CT.)
Photos of small surface hoar, obvious buried surface hoar (marked by shovel handle), medium facets at 39cm.
Otto had easy digging conditions as the snow is generally weak and sugary throughout. He struggled going down though as he punched through the variably supportable buried soft wind crust.
High elevations still look pretty well covered though trailhead access across the zone is thin and icy.
Snowpack
Very firm conditions in general. Tough skinning on W facing steeper slopes where base was rock hard and covered with small slippery surface hoar.
Found some "softer" snow on E facing sheltered slopes though turns were inconsistent and punchy.