Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2560 m
- Slope Angle
- 15°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>No signs of recent avalanche activity</p>
Walked out of Aspen Grove to see how the mid-elevation snowpack was fairing after a week of exposure with no real new snow. Slopes below 8000' have been worked by the sun and lack of snow, sunny slopes have been melted off to only a skiff of snow at these elevations.
Snow above 8000' is sticking around and will be here until the spring, with the exception of true Southerlies. I stopped to dig a pit at 8400' on a NNE facing slope and found the height of snow to be ~60cm. On this cold and shady slope, everything beneath the December 8 snow appears to be in the faceting process. Snow from the Dec. 1-2 storm that Dave observed last week has had a week of exposure and seems to be moving in the wrong direction. Developed facets from the early season storms produced propagation with moderate force (ECTP13 @ 6cm above the ground).
I did not see any signs of recent avalanche activity, however, structure is poor on slopes that are holding snow at mid elevations. With another extended period of high pressure in the forecast, I'm willing to bet this faceting process in the mid-upper snowpack won't change, and all of that is sitting atop already developed facets. I'll try to simplify my thoughts from the exit...
Poor structure afoot
Tipping point looming ahead
Where will you be then?
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Slopes above 8000' that are still holding snow have facets throughout the lower half of the snowpack. At 8400' on a NNE facing slope, these facets were dry to moist, and reactive in stability tests.</p> <p>No evidence of wind slabs at mid elevation slopes, as expected from today's forecast.</p>
An unsupportable crust lied beneath Friday's snow at lower elevations. On shady slopes, and slopes above 7750', the crust disappeared.