Interesting and mostly pleasant snow conditions. Solar and reflected radiation did not seem to have much effect on snow at mid and high elevations we travelled. South facing Tanners, even by noon, was still settled pow.
Ran across some scattered hard windslab on terrain scoops, ridgelines, predicable places. See video.
Witnessed a startling natural soft slab/sluff cascade with a large amount of force and mass behind it. Believe windloading from the light/moderate, steady SW wind was the culprit. Initiating the slide by cornice fall or just overload on the precarious graupel layer resting neatly above the suncrust and below the most recent 6in++ storm snow. Our shovel tilt tests had this layer failing with isolation on a 35º slope, S facing, ~10500ft. (below Tanners/Broads notch)
In Broads Fork, below exposed MLK raincrust, huge 10mm (saying 1cm isnt as impressive) latticed scrolls were common. With the added dense windslab, we were spooked off certain shots due to the poor structure characteristics.
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flag Comments:
witnessed a recent avalanche likely from windloading. Had cracking wind slabs underfoot on test slopes
Primary Concern
Primary Concern:
Wind Slabs
Probability:
Moderate
Aspect:
North
Northeast
East
Southeast
Elevation:
High
Mid
Trend:
More Dangerous
Primary Concern Comments:
danger and consequences increasing with more wind.
Interesting and mostly pleasant snow conditions. Solar and reflected radiation did not seem to have much effect on snow at mid and high elevations we travelled. South facing Tanners, even by noon, was still settled pow.
Ran across some scattered hard windslab on terrain scoops, ridgelines, predicable places. See video.
Witnessed a startling natural soft slab/sluff cascade with a large amount of force and mass behind it. Believe windloading from the light/moderate, steady SW wind was the culprit. Initiating the slide by cornice fall or just overload on the precarious graupel layer resting neatly above the suncrust and below the most recent 6in++ storm snow. Our shovel tilt tests had this layer failing with isolation on a 35º slope, S facing, ~10500ft. (below Tanners/Broads notch)
In Broads Fork, below exposed MLK raincrust, huge 10mm (saying 1cm isnt as impressive) latticed scrolls were common. With the added dense windslab, we were spooked off certain shots due to the poor structure characteristics.