Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>We were expecting to find more instabilities at the new/old snow interface given the condition of the surface snow (NSF) on which the new snow accumulated. </p> <p>If the wind picks up tonight the additional loading of the near surface facets could create instabilities at this new/old snow interface. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>I would be suspicious of slopes where wind has deposited snow off the upper elevation ridges onto the easterly facing slopes. </p>
We found 4-8" of new snow between 9000 -10000 ft. The new snow fell on a variety of surfaces from crusts (wind and sun) to near surface facets. The low density new snow was unreactive on these surfaces in our location. We stayed on slopes less than 35 degrees and found good powder conditions in the trees. We noticed some minimal snow transport by the gusts on the lower ridges but assume it was more pronounced at the peaks. The upper elevation exposed terrain held a stout crust under the new snow and visibility was poor.