Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Gusty winds the last two days have changed the landscape creating some dense drifted snow that has likely overloaded the weak snow pack. The new snow and wind created some slabby snow conditions that would crack around skis and sleds.</p>
I stayed in some mid elevation terrain, but still could not get out of the wind. The trail riding into Mill City was a mix of new snow and some fairly dense and deep drifted snow. The higher terrain I'm sure was getting hammered with wind.
There might be 4-6" of new snow from yesterday and today, but with so much wind it is hard to tell.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Did not see much high elevation terrain today that was getting worked by the strong winds for two days. I would imagine many slopes are just waiting for a trigger to avalanche. The winds will have created a dense slab of snow on top of a weak snow pack, not a good set up!</p> <p>I would sure think most of the ingredients for a slab avalanche are in place except for the trigger. Strong winds and some new snow to blow around will tip the scales.</p>
Hard to tell exactly how much new snow with all the wind the last two days, but looked like 4-6" of dense wind blown snow.