Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Observed some cracking in what I would describe as a storm slab. Although the winds were moving some snow around, I was seeing this in less wind affected areas. Trigered a size 1 soft storm slab avalanche while traversing to avoid some rocks entering Figure 8 Bowl. Happened on a ~37* covex roll North facing at 9,900' in a pretty protected area. Only about 6~8" deep, and about ~80' crown, but for the terrain feature a large slab. Ran maybe 200' It was pretty sensitive having just started my traverse/cut in when crack propogated ~70' in front of me. Bed surface appeared to be a rough MF crust, old snow new snow interface, would suspect there were some near crust facets as the weak layer. See pictures below </p>
Photo's below
Graupel
Wind transport on ridges
Pictures of the storm slab avalanche
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>New snow was forming a storm slab today, in wind effected areas observed some minor cracking in the cohesive snow. Triggered one smaller avalanche. See red flag comments.</p> <p>Didn't really feel any wind slabs first hand today, but saw them forming along the ridge of Wolverine cirque. I would suspect these may be getting closer to an unmanageable size, especially in steep consequential terrain. With the consistent moderate winds along ridge lines and the new snow available for transport these will be a concern, especially tomorrow.</p>
Higher density new snow with some graupel mixed in made for some pleasant riding conditions.