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Observation: Abajos

Observation Date
4/11/2019
Observer Name
Kevin Dressel
Region
Abajos
Location Name or Route
North Creek, Abajo Peak
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
It felt like winter in the Abajo's today. A cold day for almost the middle of April. Some gusty strong winds from the NW at times but mostly moderate.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
About 10-12" of new snow above 10000'. 4-6" at the trailhead. Fun skiing but you could feel the bottom unless the angle of the slope was low enough, even N facing at 11000' had a melt freeze crust underneath. Exposed slopes were affected by the strong winds
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Comments
We were not having any cracking or collapsing on the skin up and with a few quick pits the new snow seemed to be bonded well with the melt freeze crust. We skied steep N and E facing slopes with no signs of instability. I'm sure there are some wind loaded slopes in exposed areas from the NW wind though
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate