Quick report
- Collapsing
- widespread
Went for a tour out of Glen Alps in the afternoon to get a state of the snowpack. temps were inverted, high 30s at the car around 13:00. Scattered high cirrus limited solar input for most of the afternoon. Winds in the valley were calm, with light to moderate E winds in terrain corners and gaps. On the approach, stepped off the powerline pass trail in favor of valley bottom after observing debris on the first slide path reaching uncomfortably close to the powerline pass trail. In the valley, found a rain crust with generally ski supportable conditions. BTL, HS was roughly 80cms. The snowpack was touchy, producing continuous rolling collapses that were significant enough to shake foliage. At and above treeline, I received less obvious feedback. Opted to dig a pit in a small W facing slope at 2730ft. Said slope had produced a size 1 avalanche inter-storm. The pit had an HS of 145cm and produced an ECTP21 down 112cms on basal depth hoar, which was impressive considering the ECT is generally only sensitive for instability down a meter. On the ridge above said pit, I found cracking in knife hard sastrugi on nearly flat terrain that likely occurred when the slope released. Snowpack is definitely still adjusting to the new load!