Phillips Pass

Waited for the snow to soften before riding at 11:00. Surface conditions were better than expected as clear, cold night seemed to dry the surfaces particularly on northerly aspects. Tracked snow surfaces to monitor new to old interface with the incoming storm. Surface hoar can be found in sheltered terrain, not widespread thanks to increased winds. Hard crusts (1-3cm) on southerly aspects as well as some westerlies. Temperatures prior to snowfall will have a large impact on how new snow bonds. Warm temperatures with S winds around 10-15 mph. Cloud cover: Few to scattered until becoming broken at ~15:00. No new wet loose activity throughout our travels.  

December drought (1/4) layer is slowly adjusting to the current load depicted by more stubborn stability test results. Average HS from 8500-9500 120-180cm. 1/4 layer buried 70-100 cm below a fairly widesspread P hard slab on N, E, W aspects. Many south aspects have much less snow coverage due to warm temperatures, especially around Phillips Pass which experiences significant scouring as well.