Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Clear day with good views of big avalanche terrain, and the only signs of natural activity we saw were ~48 hours old. However, multiple signs of instability were observed today: Wind loaded test slopes produced shallow shooting cracks. These were more consistent when I rode above my partner's previous tracks. And on a NE aspect at 8700ft, I tested a wind sheltered slope and twice got cracking down 45cm on facets. On this slope, an Extended Column Test propagated on the same layer. Other wind sheltered slopes did not crack, but given the weak layer was facets, "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
Near and above treeline, windward slopes had a new rain crust on the surface. Leeward slopes had fresh "tiger stripes" from recent and current wind loading.
Shallow cracking on wind loaded test slopes when undercut first. One instance of cracking on a test slope sheltered from wind, with the failure layer confirmed to be facets down 45cm.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- 9000+
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Mild temps and breezy, with enough light snow on the surface for active wind transport. Rain line from recent storm up to at least our high point of 9000ft.
Snowpack
On wind sheltered slopes between 8500-9000ft, 30-50cm of snow since Jan 25th, on top of old facets.