Observation: Main Gobblers

I think the main takeaway today was the lack of signs of instability. Today, I felt comfortable beginning to step out into manageable avalanche terrain. While traveling, we experienced no cracking, no collapsing, and very few signs of drifted or hollow snow. Even stepping into steeper terrain, the new snow seemed generally settled. We witnessed a lot of evidence of people stepping into steeper terrain today with not many signs of instability.

That said, across the canyon we did see a wind slab that pulled out to older snow. I think that represents the type of terrain that will remain on the radar: shallow, steep, rocky, north facing terrain that is more wind-loaded and holds weak snow. Repeater slopes will remain suspect, and as I step out, I will be thinking about the snowpack depth, the terrain underneath the snow, and the consequences that exist.

I generally stayed away from solars, but I would guess the periods of clouds helped.

Point releases - N. facing terrain

About 12–14" of new, medium-density soft snow made for amazing riding. Due to the aspect and incoming clouds, the snow surface on most north and west-facing terrain features stayed generally cold and dry. Once on the ridgeline, the more southerly and easterly aspects seemed damp and will likely have a crust in the morning.

There was texture on the snow surface, obvious from the wind, but most planar slopes did not have much drifting. Along the ridgeline and in treed terrain that would catch more snow, there was a bit more slab formation and thicker drifts. Cornices seemed generally old and did not look like they had grown much during this last system.

The rime in the trees was impressive and beautiful. It matched what I saw traveling on Thursday, with heavily rimed trees and rimed grains from the beginning of the storm.

Small settlement cones lower in Pole Canyon

Wind texture on surface, shallow, not supportable, heavy rime in trees above 9400'

Old cornice along the Gobblers Ridgeline