Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Cracking
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>There has been steady winds the last few days and continued wind loading throughout today, but not much wind slab activity that I observed. Some minor cracking in the fresh drifts localized around your skis and sled, but these seemed very manageable. I traveled around the Whitney Basin watching other riders get onto some steeper terrain, but not much going on. I wonder though if these steady slower winds will eventually build up a slab on the north through east aspects that will be sensitive to the weight of a person.</p>
The groomers are having a hard time keeping the trails open with the strong steady winds this week.
On this small test slope I was only getting some minor cracking ahead of my skis. These mostly shallow wind slabs were 8-10" deep and were quite manageable.
Here on Double Hill the winds have been very steady the last few days and I would suspect the wind slab is getting a little more connected and deeper and quite possibly more sensitive to the weight of a person.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Plenty of wind moving snow around on the high ridges and peaks and now with the winds slowing down some, the wind slabs might become more uniform and connected. </p> <p>Normal caution in the shallow snowpack areas that may still have weak sugary near the bottom of the snowpack.</p>
A variety of surface conditions with wind scoured firm snow, some medium density powder in sheltered areas mixed in with lots of graupel from the strong convective winds.