Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Poor snowpack structure confined to only the top 10 cm layer of light density snow that continues to promote either loose dry and or loose wet. Easily triggered Loose Dry in the upper 10 cm from slope cuts and general riding on slopes with angles greater than 35 degrees. Manageable with appropriate mitigation techniques. Widespread wet Loose with daytime heating and solar on W, S and E aspects at all elevations. D1.5 to D2 wet loose observed. </p>
Mondays rating of moderate only applicable to natural wet loose as described above. Tuesday should see mostly a low danger except for an isolated moderate for new wind slabs forming in very isolated upper elevation exposed terrain. Yet by Tuesday night, and definitely on Wednesday the forecast should escalate to potentially high by late afternoon and into the evening hours if the forecast verifies. An Avalanche Warning may be appropriate for Wednesday late in the day and through Thursday with the strong winds, and large amounts of rapid loading from red flag SWE.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above, and Tuesday may see additional activity, yet much of it may be played out by now</p> <p>Cornices continued to be building during this last event even with the light winds that were in place, and with the warm temperatures and wind forecast for Tuesday these continue to remain suspect. Of note, with this next storm is forecast to bring moderate to SW strong winds, moderate to intense transport, high end PI, and red flag SWE, it is highly likely we will see another round of natural Cornice activity and the potential for triggering large and dangerous avalanches from wind loaded leeward slopes as well as deeper PWL releases outside of the upper Cottonwoods. </p>
Typical spring post storm conditions with the window for riding cold dry snow shrinking down to NNW, N and NNE with required slope angles of 25 degrees or greater needed to escape the solar radiation. That being said, riding above 9200 feet in the areas traveled on these shady aspects continued to offer incredible/excellent turning conditions in the top 10 cm of light density with totally bottomless carving. National Powder Day appears to have begun early this year and is in full swing. Trailbreaking beginning to get tough on the southerly aspects due to developing crusts from the greenhousing and solar from 3/3. Time to spend your days on the shady aspects until either the next incoming storm and or things settle out and base up with supportable crusts.