Snowpack

Observation: Powder Mountain

Gagne/Hardesty/WewerOgden
View on map

Quick report

Red Flags
Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comment
<p>Other than rapid warming, all the red flags are present.</p>

We traveled into seldom-traveled terrain to get a good look at the snowpack.

As always, many thanks to the hospitality of the Powder Mountain ski patrol.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>The December Drought Layer (DDL) PWL is buried 30-60 cms deeply and in thinner snowpack areas, we got collapsing on this layer. Two extended column tests on a southwest and west aspect got full propagation (ECTP12 and ECTP14) with a 4F slab on top of the PWL(Video and photo below.) We also got a fracture and propagation on isolation (PSTPV) when performing a propagation saw test.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Dense snow with drifting and fresh cornices along exposed ridges.