Bean Creek/Judis Peak

The main objective of today was to do some terrain familiarization and to gather more data on snowpack conditions above treeline. Recycled powder and sparkly surface hoar made for excellent skiing conditions. I found more consolidated surface snow at ridgeline as well as isolated shooting cracks in wind loaded snow above treeline and near treeline. These were the only signs of instability found today. Skiing below treeline is doable in areas that have stayed colder and have held onto more snow throughout the season thus far.

Isolated and stubborn cracking in wind loaded terrain along the ridgeline of Judis Peak.

There is still low coverage below treeline. I was able to skin from the trailhead however skiing back down was chance-y. The snow below treeline had seen some warming in recent days as evidenced by numerous rollerball activity. Snow depths increase quickly starting around 4500 ft. Snow exposed to direct sunlight was beginning to warm up a bit by the afternoon but I saw no new signs of wet snow instability. I observed widespread surface hoar growth on many aspects and at all elevations.

I dug a pit on an E aspect at 6555 ft. The depth of this pit was 50 in (125cm). I found about 6in (16cm) of decomposing fragments overlaying a small layer of ice. Below this was rounded grains and melt freeze crusts. I found a small amount of slush at the ground. I got an easy shovel shear result (STE) 11in (28cm) down in the top of the first layer of rounded grains. I also got a hard, non-propagating extended column test result (ECTN27) at this same depth. With my loupe, I was unable to identify any different grains other than small rounded grains at this depth.