Rouge storm at the Canyon

Impressive storm totals and equally impressive lack of instabilities today in the WMR backcountry.

• 12" to 18" of very low-density snow accumulated overnight under calm winds.  The new snow produced a number of loose dry avalanches overnight, up to D1.5 in size. This instability appeared to be short-lived.  We skied a number of steep, windsheltered slopes with only minor sluffing.  Numerous other tracks in the area had the same results.  
• Light to moderate winds picked up this morning out of the north, producing blowing snow in some locations.  We found pockety drifts localized to ridgelines and just downwind of saddles where the winds got channeled.  We were able to produce isolated cracking up to 10' long and 10" deep in these areas.  Drifts were still very soft (F+ hard), best identified by lens/pillow shapes.  Winds eased in the afternoon. 
• One pit showed unreactive results at the 2/2 interface, down 4.5'.  No signs of instability on this layer, but we kept to well anchored, planar slopes today to manage the consequential uncertainty. 
• Tree wells are a serious hazard right now with all of the deep snow. My partner and I kept in close verbal and visual contact with clear communication on our intended descent routes.