Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 2438 m
- Slope Angle
- 30°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind slabs were present on the NW facing ridge I skied and skinned. Generally buried below 4-8" of storm snow. I would guess these formed as the wind picked up Sunday night into Monday.</p> <p>Hard to isolate the wind slabs in many locations on slopes exceeding 30 degrees, they broke without a clean shear and seemed to lack energy.</p>
Upper snow profile showing results of ECT. ECTP 8, Q2/3 , 8" below surface, at the base of a 2" thick 1 finger wind slab. Failed on a slightly damp low density layer. Storm snow from the last 2 storms above the crust is 16" at this location. Glove is sitting on layer that failed. Trail breaking a bit of an effort.
Photo below, instability showers.
Photo below: Terrain.
Overall I would say a moderate danger, consistent with what I saw on Sunday, the new snow does not appear to have increased the hazard in this area.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Moderate Hazard in this area. I walked on top of a lot of supportable wind slabs without any cracking or collapsing.</p> <p>Wet slabs will be an issue if the sun comes out. Southerly aspects.</p>
HST=6" at the 6,400' trailhead and 8" at 8,400'. This is more than the 4" reported at the Pine Creek and Bobs Hollow Snotel sites.
Some damp snow on the road at my exit, crust forming in shady spots.