Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>One loud terrain-feature-sized collapse while post-holing into neighboring snowpit.</p>
Thanks to Steven Eyberg for the photo.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We investigated radiation recrystallization on a southwest-facing slope in upper Little Cottonwood. The undisturbed site was at 9,700' with a 24° slope facing 210° SSW. The snowpack was ~250 cm deep, with a dust/graupel layer 140 cm below the surface. Above this, a 2-3 cm melt-freeze crust contained ~1mm faceted grains. ECT tests showed no propagation within 30 taps, but a CT test resulted in a Sudden Collapse at 30 taps. A PST test indicated instability (PST 44/115cm END). The overlying slab was right-side up generally fist to 1-finger hard. </p>