Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

We traveled on S-SW slopes above Cutthroat Creek. The area was mostly sheltered from significant wind. Recent Storm snow (2/18(?)-2/20) was 12-16" in the area. Where it sat atop a thin, weak sun crust possibly some weaker snow grains and especially at elevations <5000' it was more cohesively slabby and reactive. I was able to fracture sizeable pieces of slab fairly easily on small, steep test features. Cracking underfoot was mostly confined to these steeper unsupported features and rollovers but was present elsewhere to some degree. Near or above 5000' the snow was less cohesive, but developed some slight wind effect during our second run of the day as winds increased.