Quick report
- Red Flags
- Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Depth hoar lurking in the depths, out of sight but not quite out of mind even in the upper cottonwoods. Didn't check the box as I didn't observe the poor structure today...</p>
Photo 1 - Density changes within today's new snow.
Photo 2 - Human triggered SS-R1-D1 pocket just off a ridge in a windward concavity.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Expected to see poor bonding between the new/old snow interface. Instead, new snow came in wet and dense with temps nearing 30 degrees at the Alta-Collins site. As temps cooled, several instabilities have developed as a result of in density changes within the new snow (see photo 1). Shovel tilt tests and test slopes have shown the lower most density change to be reactive on all aspects, especially in wind affected terrain. Triggered and witnessed several small R1-D1 soft slabs about 4 inches down on the lowest density change. I'm interested to see if this layer is still as reactive tomorrow morning, especially if we get any more snow.</p> <p>Snow was coming down with light to moderate winds in Upper LCC this afternoon. Small drifts and slabs forming on lee features. Wind affected (both windward and leeward) snow was more reactive on today's density change as the thin slab had slightly more cohesion. Wind speeds have picked up a little since sundown and since much of this afternoon's snow came down quite light, I would expect to see loading in the usual spots tomorrow morning.</p>
Great "dust-on-crust" skiing where you didn't hit old tracks.