Observations

Arctic Valley

Red Flags:

Whumphing (SW aspect 3500′, N aspect 3000′)

Weather:

Intermittent light snow becoming steady by late afternoon.  Temps in the mid to upper 20s.  Calm to light wind with moderate gusts at ridge top.

Surface conditions:

1-3+” fresh on top of generally supportive wind slab (1F-K hardness, 10cm+ thick).  Sluffing on steep northerly terrain.

Snowpack:

Still very thin except on lee (northerly and westerly) terrain, where the snowpack is much more substantial.  Some areas of lee terrain whumphing: wind slab of greatly varying thickness on 2cm+ basal facets and depth hoar.

Observed heightened avalanche conditions: evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.