At middle elevations: Observations, recent weather (no snow and warm temps), snowpack structure, and snowpack test results show it's getting harder to trigger avalanches, but it's still possible. If you find the wrong place on a slope, you could still trigger a 1.5-3 foot slab avalanche on weak layers in the middle and lower parts of the snowpack. The probability of triggering large avalanches appears to be steadily decreasing, but the consequences remain the same.
At lower elevations: Avalanches are unlikely. The warm temps from the past day or two made the lingering wind-slabs "goey" feeling, and they had a dirty weathered appearance. There is a lot of sage poking through the snowpack below 6000'. Stay off the large wind features to significantly reduce the chances of triggering slides.
Overcast skies at 2 PM, then flurries, Obscured and snowing S2-3 by 4:30 PM. Little snow available for transport below 7500'.
Low elevations: Thin snowpack on many aspects for the first 500' vertical off the valley floor. "Pliable", weathered wind drifts.
Middle elevations: 90-140cm 7000-7500'. Snowpit profiles attached for SE and NE aspects.
Photos of snowpack test results are in the media section above.
Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persistent Slab |
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Comments: Variety of persistent weak layers in the middle portion of the snowpack are still misbehaving in snowpack tests. |
I was solo and avoided all starting zones. I comfortably traveled in runout zones and on roads in avalanche tracks (no concerns about natural releases today).