Quick report
Clouds were too thick to try and observe any potential natural avalanches. The skiing was very good, as the recent snow has made a big impact on being able to access terrain. Observed a right side up snowpack with a good base. Small instabilities within the recent storm snow will be important to watch as the storm continues, with warmer and wetter weather forecasted at the end of the week. Small surface hoar formed on November 15, with some grapple falling on top of it. November 16 was sunny and it appears the sun helped take down some of the surface hoar. However, I was able to find small surface hoar feathers on a more sheltered North facing aspect around 6,300ft. I suspect some of this surface hoar is still preserved on slopes that share those same characteristics. The feathers were 2-4mm, and mixed in with large grapple (4-8mm). This layer did not propagate in my ECT, but broke off very easily with a shovel sheer.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 21
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 12 inches HN24
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Overcast skis the majority of the day, with small breaks in the clouds very occasionally. Snowfall throughout the whole tour, with amounts varying throughout the day. Snowfall increased with elevation gain
Snowpack
I dug a pit around 6,300ft, on a North facing aspect in a bit of a previously wind loaded area. HS was 112cm (3.5ft) overall the structure of the pit was right side up. Lots of grapple in the recent snow (storm total from Nov. 17-18) which measured about 12 inches. Very small surface hoar mixed with larger grapple below the recent snow, but did not propagate. The rain crust below that was decomposing, with some small facets. the very base of the snowpack is mostly rounds, with some small faceting.