Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Even after a week since the big holiday storm, the snow pack is still adjusting and giving good clues. I experienced one loud booming collapse while on flat terrain and snow pit tests show propagation across a column of snow. </p>
With all the tree cutting traffic over the weekend and warm weather the last few days, the highway has melted to pavement for a couple of miles. Conditions in the Whitney area are still a little bushy, but the road has good coverage.
Some photos of the avalanche activity that occurred during the big holiday storm. A lot of the crowns have filled in, but you can see the debris piles at the bottom of the slope. These are all on slopes that face north through northeast.
The poor snow pack structure is easy to see in a quick snow pit. The storm snow that sits on top of the old early season snow near the ground has a distinct line marking the two layers. This upside down snow pack is a red flag and will need time to adjust.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The weak faceted snow that sits below the holiday storm snow is clear to see in a quick snow pit. This upside down snow pack is a big red flag, when there is stronger, more dense snow on top of less dense and weaker snow.</p> <p>I did not see much in the way fresh wind drifts today, the winds were light and little to no snow being blown around. Might see this issue pick up with the small storm tonight?</p>
A variety of snow conditions today with a melt freeze crust at the trail head, some loose faceted and surface hoar higher up and settled powder on shady protected north aspects. The coverage in the Whitney area is still kind of bushy, although the road itself has decent coverage. The warm temperatures have melted some of the highway for the the first couple of miles.