Quick report
Snowfall continued most of the day in Coal Creek albeit in intermittent pulses. New snow totals at the trailhead averaged ~5 inches, with high elevation (9.5k') totals approaching ~10 inches. The new snow is starting to settle but currently remains unconsolidated. While we did not notice any sign of instability, the layer of surface hoar is well-preserved in exposed terrain and could prove problematic as accumulation continues. No avalanches, cracking, or collapsing were observed.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 23
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Calm winds gusting to light from the West. Sky cover was rapidly changing ranging from snowing, to clear as small impulses from the storm moved into the canyon.
Snowpack
We found a 50-inch deep snowpack on westerly slopes at ~9700'. Approximately ~9 inches of new snow accumulation were sitting atop a buried surface hoar layer. Our tests yielded a CT13 on the surface hoar layer, but no propagation was observed during an ECT. Below the surface hoar, a 16-inch thick 1F+ layer rests upon the early November snow. November's weak layer is now 31 inches down and appears to have gained a small amount of strength in this location.