Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind was getting down to all elevations today. I imagine there was a lot of transport before things warmed up. Likely still some at the upper elevations.</p> <p>Weak snow pack based on basal facets and weak upper pack. This will come into play if the storm produces, I could see the hazard going to high if we get an inch or more of water weight.</p>
No snow profile, the good news is that the warm weather is consolidating and strengthening the snow pack. Also shady mid-elevation aspects are actually harboring cover good enough to travel.
Photos below:
1. Thin cover on the approach.
2. The flies are out
3. The Pahvant hut system is taking reservations for the 2018-2019 winter.
Today was mostly a recon to look at cover and snow surfaces prior to the storm. Tomorrows hazard of high is based on projected storm totals.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Today the hazard was likely wet slabs at the elevations I traveled through. Likely wind slabs up higher.</p> <p>considerable hazard.</p> <p>These hazards are more for tomorrow based on forecasted snow totals:</p> <p>Storm slab due to weak surface snow and an unconsolidated mid-pack.</p> <p>Persistent slab, avalanches can beak to the ground due to basal facets. </p>
Mostly damp, some corn like snow on sunny aspects below 7,000'
Went to look at the pre-storm snow surface. Only made it to 7,600' due to horrendous skinning conditions, very sticky situation. Snow that was dry 2 days ago was very damp on the surface. Below the surface the snow was still relatively dry.