Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- isolated
We focused on mid-elevations (7500 - 9000 feet) today to see how the storm was affecting our buried persistent weak layers. We found approximately 12-16 inches of new storm snow distributed throughout the terrain. Wind-loading was limited to exposed ridgelines above 8500 feet with localized cracking and small collapses experienced only in those locations.
Cracking over short distances (10 feet max) in obviously wind-loaded terrain. Multiple local collapses along wind-hammered ridgelines with thin snowpacks. One small collapse remotely triggered a very small wind-loaded pocket 30 feet away.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 30 - 40
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Overcast and snowing this morning (S1 to S2 rate). Snow stops around 12:00pm and W winds increase at 12:15pm. Winds mostly ridgetop (9000 feet) but gusts were felt down to 7500 feet by the time we exited at 3:00pm.
Snowpack
Snow depths ranged from 75cm at 7500 feet to 100 -130cm at 9000 feet. Approximately 40cm of storm snow so far. The slab over a variety of persistent weak layers is building with all the recent snow, but wasn't very consolidated in the terrain we travelled. Other relevant take-homes:
- Wind affected snow was only found around exposed ridgelines above 8500 feet
- Multiple small cornice drops resulted in small loose dry avalanches (sluffs)
- Southerly aspects held a thinner snowpack
Key points from a couple of pits: - Quick pit @ 8750 on N aspect: 12/13 and 12/7 seem to be one crust complex with small facets above (PST 35/100 END, ECTN26)
- Quick Pit @9000 feet on an E aspect 12/21 crust found with facets above and below (ECTN17), and facets between 12/13 and 12/7 crusts (PST 25/100 END, ECTN24)
Avalanche
None observed