Nelson Spring

Dense snow fell in the morning, amounting to 1-2" of new snow. The storm moved out of the area by 10:00 am.  Around 2:00 pm, clouds started to lift and patches of blue sky appeared to the west. Winds were light out of the west at middle elevations. Temperatures hovered around 32 at 8000', with valley temperatures reaching 38 near the Darby Canyon trailhead. At lower elevations (7000'), the top 2 inches of snow had become moist on northern slopes. At 8000', solar aspects were softening by the afternoon with northern snow just starting to change form. No signs of wet activity in any form (avalanches, roller balls, etc.). 

Dug into the snowpack to check on the basal layers. Faceted grains are showing significant signs of rounding up to 8000' on western aspects. A 8" thick pencil hard layer of snow is bridging these deeper layers. Multiple curst layers still exist withing the snowpack. Snowpack tests yeilded no results. 

 

No signs of instability.