Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>There were numerous point releases near the rocks along Santiago Ridge. Most of the debris had about an inch of snow on it, so it likely occurred yesterday near the end of the storm. Otherwise we saw no signs of activity, we saw no settlement or cracking, even when we skied steeper break overs. Given how weak the snow feels with pole penetrations/hasty pits, it's a bit surprising we did not get some collapsing.</p>
Snowpack
The snow on the slopes on the north half of the compass remained cold and dry and the skiing was excellent. The snow on the south half of the compass took a beating later in the day. The underlying surface on the north half was spongy enough to make the 5" ski like deeper snow, while just the opposite was true on the solar slopes. No pit, but numerous penetrations with my upside down ski pole. The snow is weak at least 4 feet down (as far as my pole), it doesn't feel like an ordinary spring snowpack, the snow is not consolidated like it should be in late March. The weak snow and the impressive pile of avalanche debris at the bottom of Barrieto were constant reminders to be conservative in route selection and slope angle.