Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- We toured from 7100’ to 7900’ on NE and E aspects and from 7500-7800 on W aspect. - Our objectives were to see the total heights of snow, the amount of new snow, the interface between the crust/new snow, and crust thickness. Also stretch the legs. - Although with limited visibility, we did not see any avalanches. Winds were Light out of the north from 1000h- 1400h. A flurry brought 1” of new snow on the truck. - The new snow since 12/7 afternoon was consistently 20cm all aspects/elevations. With one isolated exception (short cracking of windslab roll E 7800’ near ridge, see photo), the new snow had not formed a cohesive slab yet (F hard poofda). It was unreactive over the 12/7 melt freeze crust. - 12/7 melt freeze crust was 6-9 cm thick and knife hard everywhere I looked. Below it were rounded grains, and then 2-3 mm facets, both 1F hardness and both moist (E 7300’). - At the ski area parking lot, we found a height of snow of 40cm, ranging to an average high of 65cm at the top of NW bowl at 7900’. - The crust was fully ski supportable, but boot penetration was 40-50cm. Maybe this will change as the crust continues freezing harder? Or maybe more snow will insulate it? - No core shots, inoffensive crust, and successful stump avoidance made for a pretty dang good day. Low tide, but there’s enough to float.