Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No signs of instability, but I did not explore new terrain at higher elevations, which is largely wind damaged, and has a higher forecast hazard. </p>
Below, a 3 foot high wind sculpted feature, 9300', North facing.
Another interesting wind sculpture in the same area.
Below, much better snow, around 8600' in the trees, slope angles in the vicinity of 34 degrees. I traveled this same area yesterday, with no signs of instability either day. Have not been on much steeper terrain as of yet. The "Low" danger ratings below are for the terrain I was on today. The hazard would be higher in some of the steep-sidewalled gullies in the area.
Here's something you don't see every day: a 4 foot high triangular boulder, that rolled down the neighboring mountainside (perhaps in the windstorm?), and across 50 yards of flats, stopping directly on the exit trail.
Snowpack
Extraordinarily wind-hammered conditions up high, with scouring down to last months rain crusts in many areas, interspersed with firm wind-sculpted styrofoam in bizarre formations. It makes for interesting sightseeing, but difficult, slow descending. I have not seen any instability over the last two days, but I've certainly been concerned about the plethora of rocks and stumps. Good settled powder was in limited areas, in sheltered trees from 8700' to 7800'. Below there the rain crust underneath was in play more. Below 6600' was more crusty, with increasingly poor coverage.