Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3139 m
- Slope Angle
- 30°
Snow pit tests didn't produce alarming results but it did identify multiple persistent weaknesses in the snowpack in the area I traveled.
We'll have to see what this storm brings snow and water-wise but its forecasted to bring us a foot plus of snow in the next couple of days, will it be enough to overburden the persistent weak layers? No question, increasing danger over the next couple of days, so it's heads up traveling in the backcountry if you're going to get out this weekend. Considerable danger tomorrow if forecast verifies.
Storm snow avalanche on a steep SE facing slope.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Multiple persistent weak layers in the area we traveled. A layer 45 cms down (18") produced Q1 shears on CT's but didn't propagate across the extended column in ECT's. Another layer 79 cms down (31") produced clean shears in CTs but didn't propagate across the extended column in ECT's. Basal facets were rounding and I could not get any failure on this layer. Increasing danger with more new snow forecasted. </p>
Beautiful, cold, right side up powder.