Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wet slides are to be expected on the sun exposed aspects. If we get a sunny day with warmer temps, as forecasted, watch for wet slides on all aspects though. An early start would be good even for north facing aspects. </p>
The fog did its best to preserve the snow, along with the thick clouds. It was actually snowing a trace, which was great to see, considering how warm it was at the base. More thick rime on the trees. The snow at this elevation was a bit rimed (denser), but not too bad, still good turning. A few cuts in new terrain for the storm cycle, above 9300', did not show any cracking. Around 8300' the snow was getting wet even on N aspects. This was later than I am usually out, around 2PM. Around 7600' was a wet slide apparently from yesterday, with a trace of snow on it, on a NNW aspect, which struck me as unusual. Ran a couple hundred feet, with 4-5 feet of deposition (photo). Also, not a particularly steep slope, estimating 36-37 degree starting zone. My guess would be skier triggered, yesterday afternoon, a push-a-lanche that progagated.. Hopefully a decent freeze will solidify everything somewhat, at least till 11AM or so on the shaded aspects tomorrow. After that I would watch out for wet slide potential on all aspects below 8500'. Upper elevation laps might be a good call tomorrow, still keeping an eye out for windslab on the higher shaded ridges.
Snowpack
At 9380', N facing was soft. A few cuts in new terrain (for this storm cycle) did not show any cracking, but I would still watch for windslab on shaded aspects above 9000'. Even with the fog and clouds, the warm temperatures affected the snow at mid elevations. As high as 8300', N facing aspects were not immune, thicker and wetter by midday, with rollerballing that had me traversing out to lower angle terrain.