Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I feel that today things have taken a turn for the better perhaps. Some people were out testing stablility with no results that I could see. That said the result of an avalanche will be severe. I think that it will now take more of a prod to get snow to move but when it does you will know it.</p>
I rate tomorrow moderate because I would avoid any steep slope (<33 degrees) for the next bit. However if one were to get on steep unsupported, wind loaded terrain it will be highsiderable.
It would be great to see a danger rose with all the reported slides pinned on it. East through West facing I bet.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Deep slab instability.</p> <p>The Christmas miracle for 2015! One of the largest avalanche cycles I've seen and we are all safe. Now it gets more tricky. Time to evaluate your skiing /riding goals and horizon.</p> <p>The snow skis fun on less pitched terrain.</p>
Snow greatly improved over the conditions found Wednesday. The wind event from Wed. has compacted the new snow from this week nicely. Travel about is doable.
There is a density change about 8" down.
I did do a lot of probing with the ski pole today. I dug one pit down to the facet layer to see how things are in the basement. The snow from this week is starting to form a more durable slab. The facets are maturing. They no longer run out of the base of the column like sand. My column broke 10" down with 4 taps from the wrist. Total snow depth is now up to 140cm in places.
The snow pack is now more complex. Up near the ridge on the lee side the snow is deeper and more compact sitting of a bed of facets. Further off the ridge below the wind load zone the pack is not as robust sitting on facets. Some areas have the ice layer and some do not. I feel that the pit is perhaps not as useful as the pole probing at this time.