Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Observed a few things with today’s weather following yesterday’s storm. First, the winds had transported significant amounts of snow off ridges and down about 100-200’ below the ridge tops. New snow from Valentines day storm was bonding well with a notable crust below that was sometimes supportive and other times not at all. New snow totals about 6-8 inches depending on elevation & aspect with best riding under 3400’. Skied a couple West aspects, South, NW, and N all in sheltered bowls that held consistent and soft snow. Throughout the tour, noticed isolated wind slabs with occasional cracking but without energy or depth to cause concern but a reminder that wind slabs are present throughout the region in loaded zones. Noticed several avalanches in the area on West aspects failing on the wind loaded ridges - one in 3 bowls on the other side of the valley, one off the Nipple, and one at lower elevations on a West face between Main Bowl & Ship Creek Bowl. All appeared to be filling in from this weekend’s snow event with crowns partially buried & obscured.