Public Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Toured sat/sun around the Lost Trail backcountry. Evidence of previous wind loading was present on easterly and northerly slopes. Wind slabs were stubborn but we found isolated pockets that were cracking and moving. Slabs were 10-30cm thick. Talking to LT patrol it sounds like they were able to ski cut some reactive wind slabs inbounds.

Dug two pits to look for buried and reactive faceted layers. New snow/old crust interface produced clean breaks but no propagation down 10-20cms. HS on a SW aspect 7400’ was 130cm. HS on a Northeast aspect at 7600’ was 190cm. We found approx 10-15cm of 1f hard facets at the base of both pits. In our shallow, SW facing pit we could get these facets to break with taps from the shoulder but not propagate. In our deeper NE pit these facets were not reactive.

We found isolated pockets of stiff wind slabs and saw evidence of recent cornice failure and some loose dry point releases on shaded steep aspects. Daytime warming on Sunday only mildly affected solar slopes and most of the terrain we toured stayed cold and dry.

Lots of tracks out there and decent skiing in sheltered and shaded slopes!