Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I did not get above 9000 feet today, but with winds like that, substantial loading would be going on at higher elevations. Cracking was limited to wind affected areas; the test slope where I had results was around 8700 feet, North facing, on a subridge which is somewhat wind-exposed. The top of this spot, which gets the most wind, was too stubborn to move. It was below there, but not down in the trees, that would crack. </p>
Below, a 6 inch deep pocket, which did not run.
Below, the largest pocket was 8" deep, about 15 feet wide, and did not really run either; most of the snow did not go more than 15 feet. Perhaps I should mention that I did belayed cuts (and belayed booting back up, which really compacts the snowpack) in this same spot a few days ago, so I was reasonably sure that any movement would only be in the new snow from the last 5" storm cycle. Windloading could certainly be much more, but in this particular location, I did not get results over 8" deep. There is another rollover down the slope to the right, that I did not feel good about getting on, because I have not seen tracks in that spot all year.
Another pocket with similar characteristics.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Some test slopes were not reactive, but carefully cutting one windroll did find 3 small slab pockets. 6 to 8" deep, 8 to 12 feet wide, all starting at my board. The snow seemed too thick and "stubborn" for these to propagate or run. </p>
Surprisingly decent turning conditions in north facing trees, from 9000 down to 7000. Below there was increasingly crusty.