Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2316 m
- Slope Angle
- 30°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I found shallow and very weak faceted snow, especially in shady (forested or rocky) northwest facing terrain. The weak snow is not held together by mid-pack crusts in the shady areas, and my ski pole would drop easily to the ground with little effort. In many areas the sugary snow is only about 2' deep and in some cases shallower. The entire shallow pack is very soft, with fist-hard snow throughout in places, and a deteriorated 4-F slab capping a layer of large dry fist-hard facets or depth hoar in others. </p>
Here's a photo of some of the well developed facets that was sinking into while trying to ascend. I was like trying to skin up through very loose sand in places.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Unlikely, but high consequence if you triggered one. Basal layer facets are well developed, cohesion-less, and still pretty dry.</p> <p>I cracked out a couple shallow and small wind slabs in drifted terrain.</p>
Still nice settled powder conditions, but sunny (west and southwest facing) slopes became a bit damp in the afternoon and a sun-crust likely developed overnight.