Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Lots of red flags out there and I did not need to over think what was going on out there today. Big collapses, cracking, drifting snow and many natural avlanches I observed from the the safety of low angle terrain.</p>
There were many natural avalanches that I observed today. The photo is from the Whitney area near Moffit Peak. Double Hill had some natural activity that had already started to fill in from the gusty winds and it was pretty evident from the vegetation that was showing. I also noticed Yamaha Hill had an avalanche that I could see from the highway.
This small slope near Beaver Lake had avalanched from a large chunk of cornice that broke off and triggered part of the slope.
As I stepped off the sled at this spot I sunk to my waist and dug down to find the old snow surface that is now buried with heavy dense snow. Many large collapses and shooting cracks were common today.
Strong winds moving lots of snow today.
The riding conditions are getting better, but still some bushes and hazards that need more snow to cover up.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>It was fairly obvious today what was happenning to the snow pack with lots of dense and drifting snow over loading the weak snow pack. Stepping off the sled I sunk to my waist as I broke through into the weak faceted snow below the recent snow. Many large collapses, shooting cracks and recent natural avalanches all point to a overloaded snow pack.</p> <p>The south winds were moderate to strong and I did not even get onto the ridges and I could see big snow plumes off the high peaks. </p>
Looks like a solid 12-14" around the Whitney area, but hard to tell with all the wind moving it around. Very punchy like conditions traveling around, stepped off the sled a couple times and sunk to my waist.