Quick report
- Red Flags
- Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Collasping did not generally start until >8000' Cracking (twice) up to 75' on the north ridge of Reynolds, one collaspe/crack was large enough to break some small basketball size chunks off of the cornice 75' away from me. No cracking or collasping while skiing down east ridge. Some collasping while breaking trail up Reynolds. </p>
Coverage on entry/exits is disproportionately high to actual coverage on ski runs.
Hard call between Considerable (mostly) and High (occasionally) in this area, I would assume high norths (>9500') are high danger.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>I am going to say persistent slab since there is not a checkbox for persistent weakness.</p> <p>Considerable to occasionally high danger on the north 1/2 of the compass. Moderate elsewhere.</p>
Over night: 3" at the spruces and 6" above 8500', Mostly grapuel up to 4mm.
HS is generally 24' on all aspects, a good even coating. Skied all aspects today, all aspects still punchy hollow-early sesaon season skiing with lots of hazards.
Instead of spending time on detailed pits, I looked at the basal layer on various aspects on a range of elevations:
NW @ 9000', Reynolds - 5 inches of 1-2 mm facets, fist density, unable to isolate an ECT. broke in facets. This slope had widespread cracking after skiing my 1st run (20-25 degrees), did not hear or feel it while skiing. (Pit and Facet Photos)
SE@ 8700' Reynolds East Ridge - a 1" thick, knife density suncrust with weak 2mm facets both above and below (1-2" thick).
N@ 8500', Toms Hill, 4" facets similar to those on Reynolds.
E@8000' - Base Weathering Heights, no facets, damp
Bottom line Most aspects above 8500' have weak faceted snow, this is lower than I expected.
Of note, all depths measured in areas without bushes. Brush areas appear deeper, snow has not settled yet.