Pano Dome

Took a small, low angle tour today to observe new snow totals and gauge the presence and speed of wind. Found heavy, wet, sticky snow below 8800' which made travel difficult. The air was humid and wet, with little to no wind present. Visibility and access to NTL and ATL was limited due to the storm. MFcr at new/old interface was sometimes supportable to skis and boots but sometimes not. 

Approaching NTL, ~ 9000', the air and the snow got much drier. MFcr did not exist in the upper snowpack at this level in this location. DH very much alive and well. No results, no cracking or collapsing in relation to PWL today. However, digging to the ground, when I reached the DH I immediately sank through to the ground. DH is ~ 100 cm down. 

Coverage is still thin, and travel downhill was precarious. Many logs, rocks, and bushes just barely covered. 

Isolated cracking and collapsing in BTL terrain. New snow failing on a thin melt freeze crust at the new snow/old snow interface.

Heavy, wet, sticky snow below 8800'. Isolated pockets of storm slab were failing at a MFcr crust at the new snow/old snow interface ~ 15 - 25 cm down. This layer was observed on E - N aspects today. Snowpack was moist top to bottom. DH averages ~ 55 cm down. There is a thin knife hard ice layer now separating the 1F - F DH and the rest of the snowpack above.  Steep, unsupported test slopes failed, and pit results showed CT3 SC @ 12 cm down (a layer of precipitation particles) and CT 22 SC @ 25 cm down on the crust. HS between 15 - 80 cm.  1/02 facet layer showing rounding, depth hoar still very much faceted @ 4 - 6 mm. 

The new snow, and snowpack overall, is drier above 8800'. No crusts found at this elevation. HS observed up to 135 cm in wind catchment zones @ 9000' NTL, N. 1/02 facets rounding, 4F, sit right beneath pencil hard slab. ~ 20 cm of DH sits below 1/02 facets and then 60 - 115 cm of right side up slab.