Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Active snow transport at upper exposed ridgelines.</p>
Overall great ski quality! Dry loose sloughing was minimal. The temperature inversion was quite noticeable upon descent. Consequently, surface hoar was most notable present on N aspects at mid to lower elevations.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With moderate overnight southerly winds and strong gusts, wind loading was our primary concern. </p> <p>Test pit-</p> <p>Elevation: 9550'</p> <p>Aspect: NNE</p> <p>Slope: 33 degrees</p> <p>HS: 128cm</p> <p>Within our test pit we were able to identify several weak layers, but found them to be stubborn to unreactive, with no propagation noted. Extended column test yielded and ECTN19 @ 24cm down and ECTN26 @ 39cm down.</p> <p>A conservative descent was still made, sticking to windward sides of sub-ridges that were less prone to cross loading. Because of this it is still hard for me to rule out the possiblility of triggering a lingering wind slab.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/380396660">Ben Lomond Test Pit 20191218</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user45180668">Maxwell Hamlin</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>. </p> <p>Observations of basal facets yielded simalr findings to Hardesty/Trenbeath/Wewer 12/16 observation. Facets were rounding and unreactive in our stability tests.</p>
Dense decomposing powder at upper elevations. Dry recrystallized snow on north aspects at mid and lower elevations. Skiable solar crusts forming on southern aspects in the afternoon.