Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3414 m
- Slope Angle
- 29°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>East aspect ~9700' had a buried graupel layer North aspect ~9800' had a layer of near surface facets ~1" down</p>
Lots small layers observed in the snow pit. With a heavy load of snow, there is a chance some of these could become active.
A north facing hand pit at 9800' had what I believe was a layer of near surface facets. This had ~1" of new snow on top and then a weak crust. My theory is that that this could have formed last weekend during the very cold temperatures and a large temperature gradient created by the cold air and the crust insulating the snow below the surface.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>With the approaching storm and high winds, my biggest concern will be a combination of the new snow transport by the wind and the potential of a heavy load of wet snow on the current weak layers observed in hasty pits that were performed.</p> <p>Same concern of persistent slab due to the deep facets.</p>
A variety of aspect dependent snow conditions that included wind board, powder, and sun crust.