Route
Tenderfoot up to 3,500’
Weather
Clear skies with increasing cloud cover through the day
Mild temps in the high 20s to low 30s F
Calm wind
no precip
Obvious Signs Of Instability
Recent Avalanches-NO
Cracking-NO
Collapsing-NO
Avalanche Activity in the past week
multiple D1-D2.5 slides that likely occurred within the last 5 days-multiple
aspects and elevations-2 D2/D2.5s on the N side of Tri Tip, 1 D2 on S side of
Tenderfoot, wide propagation on W side of Trip tip of shallow D1s (lower
volume), up to 300’ across
Surface Obs
Supportable crust up to 3,000, with 1-2” of new snow on top between 2,500-3,000
3-4” of new snow on firm surfaces 3,000-3,500’
Ski cuts on test slopes above 3,000’ no results
Snow Below the surface
We dug twice on S aspects in the Alpine and found high variability. Very stiff
(1F to P hardness) older wind slabs sit on facets. Slab thickness ranging from
2-18” with average in the 10” range. High strength, poor structure and medium
propagation potential.
Older D2 avalanche on the S side of Tenderfoot Ridge. Note the crusty bed surface shining in the sun, a common theme we have seen with natural activity elsewhere around the region this week.
Multiple thin and very stiff slabs upturned in the pit. These slabs are sitting on thin layers of facets. High variability exists in this zone.
Winter is still hanging on by a thread in the lower elevations.