Snowpack

Observation: Powder Mountain Backcountry

Brian PollickOgden
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Quick report

Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comment
<p>experienced cracking and collapsing while crossing slopes and flats, snow fall rates of 1" per hour, we have a layer of fist facets that has been topped with a rain crust and dense new, full propagation on extended column tests</p>

natural cornice breaks and fracturing due to wind loading

ECTP9Q2@47, northerly aspect, 8900', snowpack structure of dense new snow and a decomposing rain crust topping a layer of fist facets

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>sustained winds 20-30 and dense fresh snow have created some sensitive but dense wind slabs over a rain crust and a presistent weak layer.</p> <p>dense snow and a rain crust are now topping a near surface faceted layer that formed prior to the 11/28 storm, just a question of how much weight it will be able to hold </p>

4" new snow today for a total of 6" new since 12/3