Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Rapid Warming
- Elevation
- 3170 m
- Slope Angle
- 39°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>The snow warmed rapidly. While snacking on 10420 the surface because very moist in a short amount of time. On the windloaded aspects just below the false summit I was able to trigger cracking 18 to 24 inches past the ends of my skis on a few test slopes near skintrack corners. However, nothing substantial was moving and cracking seemed confined to the 4 to 6cm crust. </p>
A fine day of spring skiing. Early start, cool at the trailhead, and warm on the ski out. In the first pic you can see sloughing in Lacka Waxen (Clayton Peak), Second pic is snow surface along the ridgeline approach, Third pic shows northeasterlies still blowing in early morning, and Fourth pic is NE Bowl, you can zoom and see debris center right.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Isolated wind slabs at upper elevations, potential to get some moving in steepest terrain</p> <p>Snow was softening and moistening quickly. In the lower NE Bowl on 10420 there was evidence of a substantial point release that was likely from the Thursday's storm. Some debris blocks were 2 ft or so in size. Several point releases were seen on other similar aspects on adjacent mountains from the peak of 10420.</p>
A thin crust of 4 to 6 cm on the southern aspects that was easily punched by a pole plant. Snow under the crust was soft and already starting to round in the few hand pits I checked. On the ridge some scouring and wind loading was evident. However, by the time we started skiing (roughly 1045) the NE Bowl the surface had softened by the sun. Rollers ran on each turn and several times larger dinner plate size sluff broke and ran. However, the snow skied well if a bit heavy. By the time we skinned back up to the pass the snow was starting to get sloppy and punchy. The snow from earlier in the week and the cooler temps had the trees coated like winter time!