Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 3018 m
- Slope Angle
- 28°
Our snow pit was unreactive to an ECT stability test. However, the weak layer (photos below) near the ground that has been in the snowpack since November is still there, and it is not going anywhere. Even though the snowpack is quiet at the moment if and avi is triggered at this layer it is going to be deep, heavy, and destructive. You will notice in the photo below that this weak layer of snow goes up and over the top of a stump (closer to the surface/trigger point). This is great example of a avalanche trigger point.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Winds were still ripping up high in the alpine during around Tower Mountain and north to Heber mountain. Be careful as this will produce fresh wind slabs on E and NE facing slopes.</p> <p>Heavy snow was falling at a high rate adding additional weight to the snowpack which could wake things up a bit. Be careful and watch out for natural avis and wind loaded slopes. </p>
Before the incoming storm we found that most areas of snow along our route was mostly baked with a surface melt freeze crust. However, we did find a few pockets of sheltered and shaded north facing slopes with some creamy surface snow which made for better riding. At about 2pm heavy snow started to fall at over and inch per hour and by the time we headed back to the TH (4pm) there was at least 6 to 8" of fresh and the snow was still falling. Overall it was the beginning of a nice reset for the range and Sunday riding conditions should be favorable.