Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>See above for Wind Loading Observation. Poor Snowpack Structure mainly confined to Surface Forms: NSF's observed on all aspects. Northerlies had the largest distribution. Yet, even many aspects on the Lower half of the compass had Faceting with signs of Rounding going on on the surface. Of Note, the winds appear to have picked up after we left around 1500 and this may have helped destroy some of these Surface Facets; but most likely not all. And, the protected Northerlies will most like have buried Surface Facets for this incoming round of Precip. Finally, Snowpack tests indicated that there is a buried Faceted Layer anywhere from 15 to 35 cm down. It appeared that these were created during the break in the two events last Sunday and Monday. Reactivity was spotty with significant Spatial Distribution providing scores that were inconsistent. Yet, CT20's with SC Characteristics were common on NW Pits at 9500 feet. The weak layer appeared to be Rounding Facets, and the interface appeared to be a 1 Finger Hard Ambiant M/F Crust that was formed in between these events; and the Weak layer was reactive above this Crust. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above; and the Isolated Moderate Hazard Observed on Sunday most likely will elevate on Monday to Considerable with the Forecast event. Of Note, the Strong to Intense Winds combined with Dense Snow may create more Stubborn Slabs that will be most likely found in Mid Slope Locations rather than in the Upper Elevation Classic High Parts of the Starting Zones. </p> <p>This was not a problem on Sunday, yet with the anticipated New Load forecast for the next 72 hours, this Most Likely will become a player. Regardless of Interface Issues previously discussed, Density changes in the New Snow combined with a contributing factor of Wind Transport will Most Likely allow for Sensitive and Reactive Slab development. </p>
Extremely variable conditions with everything from Breakable Crusts on the Off Aspects to Supportable fun riding on W, S and SE. Dense Cold Settled old Powder on NNE, N and NNW, yet it needed a slope angle of at least 25 degrees to not have a surface Zipper Crust.
Wind damage and Sastrugi observed on the highest exposed ridgelines.