Quick report
An amazing day of sun and good-enough snow after some seriously dreary days. While signs of previous and current avalanche activity were observed, no fresh slab avalanches were triggered despite much slope testing. It appears this zone either didn't build much surface hoar or it got swept away by the wind or melted down by warm temperatures. Recent storm interfaces didn't produce remarkable results in testing and the simple fact that no slab avalanches were triggered today is probably the most important observation.
No signs of instability other than small slab and wet loose naturals yesterday and larger wet avalanches in southerly alpine terrain.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Clear above with clouds out over the lowlands and the Sound. While it was warm and sunny it wasn't enough to really break down the crust above 5000'. Cool downslope breeze higher on the mountain.
Snowpack
Breakable crust on all aspects up to 6000' from warm temps on Sunday and cooling overnight. Most observed terrain receives significant sun so didn't seem like small surface facets that formed overnight were hanging on. Alternating thin crusts and layers of DF and RG down 100cm to 12/21 crust at 5700'. Tilt and compression tests were able to pull out clean shears at storm interfaces in the top 60cm (SP), but no propagation in large column tests and no surface hoar found. Older wind slabs and drifted features were unreactive. Minor wind transport today above 7000' but not enough to make much of a slab in observed terrain.
Avalanche
No new human-triggered avalanches were observed. Wet loose to D2 starting in extreme alpine terrain on the south faces of Seward, Lincoln, and Colfax. Running full track and leaving large debris piles on lower angled terrain below. A handful of D1.5 slabs on numerous aspects at 6000' and above, generally below small corniced features. Looked about a day old, maybe two days. Also, there were small wet loose on the RR Grade and Metcalf Moraine, both naturals and sled triggered during very balmy temps on Sunday. Wet activity from that day was observed on all aspects up to 6000' so suspect temperature was the key warming input instead of sun.