Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Surprisingly the only recent avalanches observed in the area have been artillery triggered slides off of Hwy to Heaven traverse from 8 days ago. SW winds during the storm piled snow on N to E aspects and steeper lines in these aspects likely waiting for a trigger. Small cornices cracking on NE facing slope with some effort, but with the exception of a couple cornices sighted today, most of them don't have enough mass to disrupt the snowpack below. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Although the sensitivity has diminished, there is still a poor snowpack structure in most areas and the size of the problem still stays the same. No major cracking or collapsing but based on other peoples observations of recent avalanches, there were likely slopes all around just waiting for a trigger. </p> <p>Wind slabs on unskieed N to NE facing slopes lurking from last weeks storm approx. 1 to 3 ft. deep. </p>
Surface Hoar scattered throughout the area including Twin Lakes Pass, Patsey Marly, Wolverine Cirque and Mt. Tuscarora. Something to keep in the back of our minds moving forward as we are expecting snow this weekend. Upside down snowpack very apparent with simple on the go pole probing tests. Obvious signs of wind loading on the steeper northerly aspects of Tuscarora. Unsurprisingly, they haven't been ridden yet. No lines in Wolverine Cirque yet either (with an exception being the most westerly facing chute closest to Mt. Millicent). Signs of wind loading and many of the ridable chutes likely waiting for a trigger in both zones. N face of Wolverine had a mellow crust that had formed likely due to the greenhouse effect mentioned in the forecast yesterday by Evelyn.
Most N facing slopes providing some fast glide, making lower angle turns very fun. Unsheltered aspects crusty or damp.