Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Elevation
- 3048 m
- Slope Angle
- 26°
We dug a snowpit on a north (8°) facing slope in a protected area at 10,030' in on the west side of Moffit Peak. The snow in this location was 7.7' (236cm) deep. We dug down 5' (150 cm) and found a right side up snowpack. The extended column tests gave us results with no propagation ECTN17 @8" from the surface (215cm from the ground) and ECTN30@ 1' from the surface (180cm from the ground). After the test we pried on the column and were able to get a fracture 3' below the surface. Where we dug the stability was good. Thinner, rockier, steeper slopes that may have previously avalanched are the places I would pause to assess before committing to steeper terrain. Luckily there is plenty of great riding to be had on slopes away from these steep thinner locations.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We observed one avalanche on a northeast facing slope near Moffit Peak (10,500') that looked to be a cornice triggered avalanche from earlier this weekend. (photo 1 below). We also observed a shallow wind-drifted snow avalanche on the south side of Double Hill on an east facing slope at 10,200 (photo 2 below). </p> <p>Moffit Ridgeline</p> <p> </p> <p>Double Hill</p> <p>We saw a number of dry loose avalanches on steep aspects (above photo of Moffit) on north, east, and west facing slopes (west facing Moffit below) above 10,400'.</p>
Lower angle easterly and northerly facing slopes were soft powder conditions. It was not as warm today as it has been and the snow that had been sun crusted stayed that way throughout the day. Lots of good riding to be had on shady slopes. Steeper slopes facing the sun (south and west) had a slight melt-freeze crust on the surface and higher elevation northerly facing terrain had signs of wind-drifted snow underneath large cornices.