Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Not as much collapsing today, but maybe that's because I and others have collapsed all the weak layers in the areas traveled. Structure remains poor but the slab seems to have gained more strength since Sunday, protecting the weak layer and making it more difficult to initiate failures. Dug in a similar spot to where I was on Sunday, below high Ivory, 9,700' ENE, HS 90cm, CTM13 SP down 18cm on the FC/PPrm buried on 20201222, ECTN14 on same layer, CTM15 SC down 45cm on the 20201211 FCsf that has been seeing a majority of the activity, ECTP30 on that layer. The FC seem slightly larger and weaker (maybe due to spatial variability), and the slab is stiffer, F-P. Noted cracking windslab in most aspects above 9,000'.</p>
Pictures 1,2- ECT with F to P slab on top of FCsf, rime crust/FC noted with second horizontal line from top.
Picture 3-Wide variety of snow surfaces out there with the firnspiegel glaring in the sun.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Still thinking widespread/stubborn and up to size 3 are possible in the core. All of the areas I've observed outside the core seem to have much weaker & more developed FC and even DH and are probably widespread/reactive maybe size 2 due to slab having less continuity?</p> <p>More prevalent than I anticipated today, HS and SS.</p>
Snow surfaces have taken a beating. The East winds Monday with the westerlies overnight have done a number on the snow quality. Saw some firnspiegel, sastrugi, wind board and powder all within 50'.