Trestle Creek

Wet snow surfaces from brief overnight rain January 12 - 13th, prolonged above freezing temperatures, and sun affect has formed a surface crust on all aspects and at all elevations. The crust is thin and unssuportive on shaded aspects. With high pressure preventing any notable weather changes, The surface crust will be here to stay until something changes. 

Micah and I took advantage of this lull in active weather today to refresh our rescue skills with single rescuer/multiple burial beacon practice at the top of the pass. It is always a good idea to set aside time to refresh these skills and in turn, ensure all of your rescue equipment is in good working order. The flats at the top of the pass are a perfect venue for setting up scenarios.

Plenty of large pinwheels and rollerballs, but no notable wet loose avalanches observed today.

On southerly facing slopes, wet snow surfaces exposed to the sun made the top 1 to 2cm snow surface wet. Moist snow existed down to or deeper than 2 feet. On northerly aspects and shaded spots, a thin breakable surface crust (P- hard) was present with dry snow immediately underneath the crust. Varying slope aspects will offer differing wet snow transition to crust conditions. This location today differs compared to surface conditions we observed in the Selkirks yesterday, likely due differing rain of snow prense/absense or intesity on Monday January 12th. The crust on shaded slopes in this area may have been a result of warm temperatures alone and greenhousing from high clouds early in the week.

Shaded snow surfaces had small surface hoar formation of both needle-like and the more common striated crystals (4mm). The grain type, spatial distribution, grain size and eventual end state of today's surface hoar on the surface will likely continue to evolve with forecasted continued clear nights, sunny days, and no precipitation.