Toured NE-E aspects 9300-10300ft. HS 120-140cm with 40cm settled storm snow from the past 72hrs. Strong W/SW winds sculpted fresh wind lips. Lots of cracking on E aspects. Reactive instability tests on NE (ECTP22 SP @ 60cm from surface) with the block jumping out of the snowpit on a 30* slope.
From CAIC
With one to two feet of snow in the Flat Tops, Elkhead, and Park Range, avalanche conditions are going to be spicy. Storm Slabs alone will be large enough to bury someone, given the slope’s size and how much snow is entrained. Below the new snow is a myriad of weak snow layers from crust/facets, to hardened slabs, to surface hoar. Given this setup, the fresh snow will be very touchy on steeper slopes, especially in wind-drifted areas where the slabs are more cohesive.
This load will be a good test for the weak snowpack we’ve seen throughout the Northern Mountains. Areas in the way north, like the Elkhead, could see some avalanches failing to the ground on weak facets and depth hoar.