Quick report
- Cracking
- widespread
The conditions felt complex, but I did not see any obvious signs of instability in my travels today, aside from some minor cracking and sensitive pit tests.
- Storm snow is "upside-down" with denser, cohesive slab resting above weaker snow.
- I found drifts of recent snow 12-18 inches deep.
- Cracking was confined to the top 4-6 of the snowpack.
- Slabs ranged from soft to hard.
- I got propagating results with easy force in the top 8" of the snowpack.
- Gale-force winds were blowing snow (and chunks of rain crust) above 6000', making it difficult to stand at times.
- Wet snow was indeed a problem below the rain/snow line (5300'), but more in terms of travel as there is generally not enough snow to avalanche in this elevation band.
- Above 6000', I found a fresh rain crust on all aspects. Its depth varied from on the surface to 6 inches deep.
The weather alone was good reason for me to keep my plan and terrain choices simple.
Stubborn cracking in the top 4-6 inches.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- 5300'
- Recent Snowfall
- 8-15
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Rain below 5300', the trees were still dripping up to 5600'. Winds moderate with strong gusts below 5600'. Winds strong with gusts to extreme above 5600'. A couple pulses of graupel. Skies began clearing around 3:30pm.
Snowpack
Test pit at 6800' S aspect:
- ECTP1, ECTPV down 20 cm on PP (2mm) under a rain crust,
- ECTN 27 x 2 down 55 cm on FC (1mm) below 12/7 crust
Test pit at 6800' N aspect:
- ECTP5,6 down 20 cm on PP (2mm) under a rain crust
- ECTN 22,24 down 45 cm on FC (1mm) below 12/7 crust
- ECTN 30 down 70 cm on rounding facets (1mm) above the AR crust