Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

The objective today was a long consistent ride on corn snow. Sometimes tracking riding conditions helps track the day’s avalanche problems as well – in this case Wet Loose.

• The best riding we had today was at 1:30 PM between 9500′ and 7500′ on low angle NE facing snow. Here we had boot penetration to mid-calf and ski penetration of 10cm.
• Sometime around noon there was an onset of wet loose activity up to D1 in the same elevation band in rocky NE facing terrain.
• At higher elevations (above 10500′) on N and NE the wind pressed snow has not made the transition to spring yet, but the surface rides well enough where it is smooth.
• Confined terrain below very steep rocky start zones would be my main concern at the moment. I wouldn’t want ot be stuck in that kind of terrain in the early afternoon.