Snowpack

Observation: Maple Hollow

ToddeoSouthwest
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Quick report

Red Flags
Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comment
<p>The basal facets are not going anywhere. I backed off a 35 degree north facing slope @8,500' after pole probing (photo below). Theses facets exist to below 7,500 feet but are below a rock solid crust below 8,000' on all aspects.</p> <p>Some isolated wind drifts up to 1' thick and soft slabs about 6-12" thick in places.</p>

No profile today, on many aspects, each storm has become part of the underlaying crust.

Photos below:

1. Isolated soft cracking with a slight bit of movement, none shooting.

2. The slope I backed off of, 1' of hollow facets at the base of a 48" snow pack.

3. Thin, lumpy (almost like moguls) snow pack @7,500', the crust is making it easy to travel.

4. Terrain and wind affect, the surface was a bit thick in this area (8,400'), looking down from photo 2.

Overall a low danger below 8,000', moderate elsewhere with the exception of considerable on upper elevation north aspects above 8,500'.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Mostly on the north 1/4 of the compass above 8,500'. Below that I think the crust is strong enough to support a big load.</p>

HST - 6" both in Fillmore and up high.  Some graupel.  Some sluffing on slopes approaching 40 degrees, minor but worth noting.