West Willow

The snowpack below tree line continues to melt out rapidly. Above that, freezing temperatures overnight allowed the upper snowpack to lock up. Initial snowfall was light and low density. 

We observed no signs of instability. The surface had refrozen to a point that it was nearly unedgable on sun exposed steep slopes. New snow is falling on a slick surface, but while we were out, there wasn't enough snowfall accumulated yet to form slabs or sluff.

The previous days of warmth and sun followed by cold night time temperatures have created a thick freeze at the surface. Above 6,000 feet, steep open slopes were very difficult to get a ski edge into. The upper foot of the snowpack was very firm (K-P), and below that was 4F saturated snow, with a distinct layer where water  was pooling 50cm down. Because of the robust crust, a skier or snowmobiler would not have been able to influence any layers below it. 

Light but steady snowfall started at 0930. By 1400 there was about 1" of new snow. There was not enough accumulation for a new snow problem to emerge just yet, but new snow will be loading onto a slick surface. Below 5,500' the snowpack is very thin, but softened at the end of the day.