Lobster Claw/Right Gully

Observed very variable conditions in South East aspects in Tuckerman Ravine. The surfaces ranged from fist hard new snow, to 1F- slabs that were about 2 in in size, to P hard slabs. The newest melt/freeze crust layer was found to be disintegrating in most locations and found facets underneath. With a few days of sustained cold it was not surprising to find facets. Its sensitivity is something to look out in the coming days with increased loading as new snow falls and additional snow is transported by winds. Walking across the firmer snow you could hear a hollow sound from that facet layer under the disintegrating melt/freeze crust. Facets were found in all locations we inspected. In skinning up did release some small pockets of new snow. This was on a firmer surface on steeper slopes and the depth was 1.5 inches in two different locations where this happened. From Hermit Lake observed that Left Gully looked a bit different from yesterday afternoon but was unable to clearly make out the start zone and the changes. A skier remarked about new debris in Left Gully. Was unable to see this in Tuckerman Ravine due to poor visibility at the time we were there. Cracking was isolated to pockets of snow that were often 1F in hardness. Was mostly under skis and only notably extended beyond them once, but it was not a huge crack and did not have a lot of energy to it. Some of the P- slab cracked into little blocks underfoot 2 inches in size, these did not extend beyond skis.

Lobster Claw/Right Gully

Quick report

Weather

Snowpack