Quick report
- Aspect
- East
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading
- Elevation
- 2865 m
- Slope Angle
- 35°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind was blowing most of the day. I was able to see airborne snow at varoius times, some drifting on the Silver/Days ridge with an occasional hard slab up to pencil density and supportable, thses were non-reactive. I would imagine the upper elevation tearrin is more wind effected.</p> <p>Low hazrd in this area, but I suspect the higher terrian is a different story.</p>
Snow profile is in 1st photograph. HST 3", HS 16. Of note:
Basel snow is damp, sub-millimeter grains.
Two sun crusts which are pencil density (isolated in photo).
Snow between the crusts is starting to facet but not to the point of a red flag.
Photo, Graupel runnels.
Note: I did not take any of the standard routes to the upper meadows, if any one is as silly as I was putting it in to follow it, please remember that this route should not be used in periods with any potential for avalanches nor should it become a standard route.
Bushwacking at it's finest, I am not ready to say it is "ski season" yet.
I am close to calling the danger none, but will stick with low in this area.
Danger rating is for the area I traveled today only.
The consistent 3" of dense cover gives the impression that cover is much better than it actually is.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Normal caution in this area, the main hazard is the thin snowpack (HS=14 to 18"), This is the thinnest snow pack that I have ever tried to ski in this area. I have a secret number that works and 14" is substantially less (sorry it is a secret...). Coneflowers should be knee-high in this area, currently waist high.</p> <p>Snow is punchy with occasional punching through to the ground. I suspect that the new snow will set up overnight and help this situation. </p>
A consistent 3" slathering of dense graupel all around. A lot of pooling on slopes below 35 degrees or so, up to a foot deep in place. Graupel was moving all day, at least an inch in my skintrack between the 1st and 2nd run.
A subtle and thin rain/rime crust at the base of the new snow, had to look hard to notice it. Graupel not present in some wind effected and steeper areas.