Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
Biggest concern is recent wind drifts, some of which may now be buried by Sunday storm snow. We were not in wind-affected terrain today, but did spend the time digging down to the old snow surface prior to the onset of snow on Saturday Feb 3. On Monday Feb 5 I was finding the preserved facets and surface hoar at the old snow surface to be quite reactive to stability tests. This faceted layer is now down 60-100 cms. However, over the past 6 days, the faceted layer is gaining strength, and stability tests on Friday in Mineral Fork and today in Red Pine/Maybird were at best ECTN (no propagation with extended column), mostly failing within recent storm snow, or occasionally at faceted layer. Video below is discussion of snowpack at 9400' in Red Pine Gulch.
Avalanche danger was Moderate where we were traveling today - wind-sheltered mid elevations. But Considerable in upper elevations as well as mid elevations that have been wind-loaded. If storm comes in on high end of forecast (in excess of 30 cms/12") with wind, easy to see hazard as High on Monday.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Was finding 20 cms of new snow to have poor bond with old snow surface. Photo and video of shovel tilt test. (This is a useful test for determining how new storm snow bonds to the old snow surface.)</p> <p> </p> <p>Am guessing this poor bond may be reactive to additional loading with the Sunday evening storm snow.</p> <p>Although we did not encounter any recent wind-drifted snow today (admittedly we were trying to avoid it!), there has been consistent southerly winds over the past several days creating sensitive drifts and cornices in wind-affected terrain. Other observers have noted wind getting down into mid elevation terrain, and we also noted cross-loading in upper Maybird Gulch well down off of ridgelines. There is plenty of loose snow available for transport!</p>
Roughly 20 cms new snow since overnight.