Quick report
- Aspect
- West
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3018 m
- Slope Angle
- 30°
The upper part of the snowpack's instabilities have settled out quite a bit but we were still able to get failure in column tests about 12" from the surface below the wind event earlier this week. The upper portion of the pack is quite supportable, even on a snow machine. Again, it is harder to trigger but CT's and ECT's failed with energy below the rime crust on early season facets. Q1 and Q2 shear qualities. In some places the the rime crust is breaking down and is quite thin, while in others it is still an inch thick. There was about 3' of snow in the areas we skied. Surface hoar was prevalent in the lower valley bottoms but none noted off the valley bottoms.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>My biggest concern is the deep, persistent slab instability we have been dealing with.</p> <p>increasing danger if wind keeps up</p>
Dense, creamy, re-crystalized powder. Wind was beginning to form thin wind skins on some slopes.