Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Cracking observed on Wind Loaded NE aspects. Collapsiing observed due to Poor Snowpack Structure in Snow Pit Tests. Wind Loading continuing even at Mid Elevations. At least five more avalanches on Southerly facing aspects with buried PWL's as weak layers definitely accountable for two of them; and there have now been at least 7 avalanches on ESE through SE since Thursday. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>As previously reported four days ago, there is a PWL issue on ESE through SE. This P-Slab problem is now buried even deeper due to the persistent NW-erly winds that have been active for almost 4 days now. These NW-erly loading winds only abated for a brief period of SW today, and they are now veering more W to WNW again this evening. This P-Slab problem has been reported and identified by observations of at least 7 remote and natural avalanches since Thursday. Today in Snow Pits on a SSE aspect at 9200 feet in the 10420 area Poor Structure was observed with .5 mm facets yielding CTM SC Scores. In this location the buried PWL was only 17 cm down, and they were just above a thin M/F crust. All steep sustained ESE-SE may be suspect. And, with the recent observations of multiple avalanches on SW, this P-Slab problem may be on S and SW aspects as well. </p> <p>Continued Westerly winds appear to be keeping the Wind Slab Problem active and a concern at least on Upper elevations, and possible on Mid elevations as well. </p> <p> </p> <p>Today's danger rating trended towards Considerable due to all the activity reported, and if the winds continue to load and transport additional snow, Considerable may be appropriate on all aspects at Upper Elevations, and also on E, S and SW aspects in the upper tiers of the Mid Elevations for Sunday. </p>
Only a very thin M/F layer from Friday's solar, and afternoon cloud cover appeared to help keep even the southerly aspects cold and dry on Saturday. Good riding on dense settled/creamy powder.