Quick report
- Cracking
- widespread
As I put my ski boots on at 5,200' in a graupel storm, I noticed the graupel balls rolling down the snow surface on a steep road embankment. (potential problem?) Trying to isolate a block down low was difficult, as they disintegrated while cutting. As I climbed higher, (~6,200') there was 14" of super light snow before hitting any resistance in the snowpack. The resistance was a weak wind scuff and then more unconsolidated snow for another 10" or so. There were facets, on the wind scuff layer that sheared clean, but it took a soft pull to shear. Shifting from a hasty pit to a CT, I found each tap blew through layer after layer until I was at the wind scuff layer. As I climbed higher to the ridge at 6,600', the 1-2" super soft slab, turned to 4-6" super soft slab that cracked with each step. (Note, these "slabs" would break up in your hands just by picking them up.) No noise, cracks pretty isolated to my skis, not a running crack. From 5,200' to the ridge at about 6,600' there was no hard surface wind slab. It snowed all day, probably 4-5", with the temperatures in the high teens. Breezy, cloudy. The skiing was as good as it gets...knee to waist deep turns. Ski penetration while touring was top of boot cuff to just below the knee in the afternoon. One last note, given all the wind lately, the competing forces of SW versus NE winds appear at a standoff. Note what should be a huge east-facing cornice photo below. Merely a rock with snow this year. I skied W and NW lines as visibility was better. Caution on large open slopes as the sloughing might step down...Probably not the weekend for that "big objective". Enjoy the snow in the trees on less aggressive slopes and you won't regret it...