Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The crust will be problematic with a load. Places where there is snow above the crust, it is thin and weak, providing an excellent weak layer/bed surface combo waiting for a slab. I am more interested in the weakening snow below the crust, I suspect it will wait for a significant load until break on this layer, setting us up for a potential PWL problem down range.</p>
Top photo is a glimpse of the crust at about 8000 feet, shows a crown, where the slab released but couldn't overcome residual friction and stopped after moving a few inches. No idea how long ago this occurred, but my guess is late or immediately after the last storm. This is the NW aspect on Mt Aire at 8500'
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Pay attention to the facets below the crust. It is eerily similar to the 2001-02 structure that led to two separate widespread avalanche cycles.</p>
The surface is interesting. From full blown ice (up to 5mm thick) down low, to barely noticeable in certain leeward locations. It was surprisingly supportable while skiing, despite being an unpredictable nightmare on the uptrack.