February 27, 2018

#SoFo obs today: Red flags in the N Bowl area included whumphing below Hunter Pass on the Ship Creek side in vegetated areas, active wind loading as northerly winds picked up after 5pm (which was dramatic in the Rabbit Creek areas of the Front Range as seen from Muldoon on the drive home), and a few recent natural avalanches. Specifically, a SS-N-D1-R1 wind slab was observed in French Bowl releasing from ~3600’ NNE aspect and a much larger presumably D2-2.5 persistent slab with impressive propagation on a SW aspect between 3500-4000’ in the Mile Hi – Mt. Significant zone of #NoFo #EagleRiver (observed from Hiland Road while driving out). There are definitely some heavily wind loaded areas to watch out for, and we still have a serious persistent slab predicament. It’s too soon after the big storm to really understand how the persistent slab problem has been affected. Stay tuned, approach steep terrain with caution, and let us know what you’re finding in the #mountains in terms of #snowpack and stability.

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