Quick report
We toured out to do some maintenance on the Seattle Ridge weather station. We skied a few runs on the front side and a few on the back, digging multiple quick hand pits as we traveled. The soft snow above the recently buried crust is faceting after several days and nights of cool, clear weather, and there is a very consistent layer of surface hoar on the current surface. Both of these factors will be a concern as soon as the current surfaces are buried by new snow or wind.
We did not see any signs of instability while we were out today.
No signs of instability observed.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- 0
- Recent Snowfall
- 15-20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Clear and calm. There was about 6-8" recent snow on average in the area where we traveled. Winds have not done much to blow any of that around yet on the north end of Seattle Ridge, front side or back.
Snowpack
We didn't dig any formal pits as we traveled, but quick hand pits consistently showed 6-8" faceted snow above a crust. Our high point was 2600' today, and we found that recently buried crust all the way to the top. There was a very consistent layer of surface hoar on the surface, which will be something to watch out for as soon as it gets buried.