Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Couldn't see much in the way of avalanche activity due to the low visibility. Cracking in new wind slabs/yesterdays wind slabs. Very little wind loading noted at 9k' ridges. Rapid loading of the snowpack. Quick pit at 8,700' N, HS 120cm, ECTP26 down 90cm on 20201211 FC/DH, CTM17 SP, ECTN down 45cm on FC (20210122?). Don't mistake hard/stubborn or no propagation for stability, as the PWL gets deeper and more protected by more snow and HS the ECT is starting to become the wrong test for this layer in many places. Strive to perform more PST's and find shallow/weak/trigger points to perform ECT's. </p>
Noted considerable hazard in mid elevations out of the wind today, suspect different story up high today. With FX snow, I expect instability to peak tonight.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The 20201211 PWL is now a deep slab problem, more unpredictable and extremely consequential. Given the variability I have seen in the HS within the drainages/slopes I still see this as a human triggered problem even in traditionally deeper areas. Also, don't forget about the repeater slopes that are all over the range where the pack is thinner.</p> <p>New storm slab and loose dry expect to be reactive to touchy. Any where there was a bit of wind will also have wind slab.</p>