Snowpack

Observation: Mill Creek Ridgeline

John MletschnigSalt Lake
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Quick report

Aspect
Northeast
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Elevation
2682 m
Slope Angle
30°

Big Water pit: ECTP29 at 25cm on Depth Hoar Sudden Collapse. HS 75cm. Failure on Depth Hoar was in Fist Hardness snow below 1 Finger slab. Surface hoar (4mm) and near surface facets present on snow surface.

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Although it is now harder to trigger an avalanche than it was the snowpack structure still shows many deep weaknesses in most protected locations. Some areas have more of a slab on top of weak snow than others. Areas where there is an overlaying cohesive slab are suspect. It will be interesting to see what the coming snow load does.</p>

Traveled up Mill D North to Reynolds Pk, Big Water Gulch, Soldier Pk, and Wilson Glade. Lots of wind and sun and temperature affected snow out there. Below 8000' the snow surface was damp. Near surface facets present on shaded aspects in top 10cm of snowpack. Much of the surface hoar we observed in our travels was laid over or temperature affected to some degree; didn't see much above 9500'.