Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>See above for Poor Snowpack Structure in the upper layers of the snowpack. Dry basal facets continue to be identified by many observers. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Still waiting for todays observations to see if there were any more human triggered Persistent Slab avalanches. The testers have been out in full force he past few days without any more activity besides the Sunset avalanche that occurred 3 days ago. Avoidance of steep/shallow/rocky terrain in the upper elevations where the rain crust is thin may be wise. Any significant new loading in these zones may Likely overload these slopes. If tomorrows forecast verifies for the upper SWE values the danger will be increasing on all aspects and elevations with the mid and upper elevation polars PWL's becoming reactive. The most significant danger out there continues to be "Slide for Life" potential on the slick rain crust. </p> <p>Did not travel in any areas receiving direct solar. </p>
Everything can be found out there, yet the most interesting thing is how the "Facet Factory" has been operating in full swing. Skin trails used yesterday had a thin layer of NSF's that made for slippery travel on the steeps. Then entire snowpack is faceting above the rain crust, and in many places directly below the rain crust as well. Regardless, the riding continues to be good on the shady aspects at mid and upper elevations on steep and low angle terrain; and in areas housing at least 20cm of settled storm snow you can make turns without carving down to the rain crust. As the days progress beyond last weekends storm the settled storm snow continues to become more cohesive and is beginning to exhibit soft slab structure with minimal/insignificant cracking.