Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The moderate to strong northwest winds were hammering the higher ridge lines making for tough travel and creating fresh wind slabs that would crack up to two feet deep. I was avoiding getting too close to the edge of the ridge lines not knowing how far back these fresh wind drifts would break. </p>
Not a great photo, but was trying to capture how south facing slopes have remained thin given the recent windy conditions.
Pretty burly conditions on the upper elevations where winds have been hammering the ridge lines. Even lower in the drainage the snow surface has been getting wind damage and has that rough look and feel.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p> </p> <p>Winds today kept the avalanche hazard considerable in the upper elevations where fresh wind drifted snow was reactive to the weight of a person. Would not be surprised to see and hear of some natural avalanches that happened from heavy wind drifted snow overloading shallow weak snow pack areas. </p> <p>Stacking some heavy wind drifted snow onto areas where the snow pack has remained thin, could be a real test to the strength of the snow.</p>
Still some soft dense settled and loose faceted snow, but the winds were starting to spoil the powder party. Down off the ridge lines, the winds were still blowing and starting to make for more slabby snow conditions.