Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We noted a fair amount of drifting along the ridges and some fresh drifts. Wind slabs easily cracking up to around 6" in drifted snow failing on a very thin layer with both graupel and SH visible, often on isolation with ski pole or hand pit tests and ECTPs with <10 taps from the wrist in test pits....</p>
We noted localized cracking in the top few inches of drifted snow in terrain exposed to the sustained west winds...
With around 3.5 inches of water equivalent and sustained south and west winds since the beginning of December, the bony upper elevation slopes are well covered, and we didn't hit rocks on slopes that you would't even have wanted to try a few days ago...
Thanks to Mimi and Darren for today's photos...
We helped to dig out a couple vehicles that got pretty stuck in the couple feet of drifted snow up at the Tony Grove Lake parking lot. If you are towing a trailer or are concerned about low clearance you should consider parking lower down.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Sensitive shallow wind slabs building in exposed terrain, a very manageable problem today, but becoming more widespread above 8500' </p> <p>No natural or triggered activity of this type observed. Probably still potential in places where wind slabs formed on weak faceted snow, but I'm not actually seeing much evidence of this problem in the Central Bear River Range.</p>
Good smooth and fast shallow powder conditions. Snow somewhat wind affected in exposed terrain and a bit better in more sheltered areas. We found fairly good snow on south, east, and north facing slopes. NSF and small SH apparent.