Tuckerman Ravine

Observed stable snow throughout the ravine in multiple aspects. Found wind deposited snow to be well connected, but was nonreactive in the areas observed. Composition of the snow was 1F over 4F on a melt-freeze crust. Warm temperatures and solar effect was evident in the surface snow and with dropping temperatures tonight expect to see a firm surface in the morning.

In northeast aspects between Left Gully and Chute observed snow depths that range from 6 inches to 2 feet. In the most sheltered and isolated areas found depth to be closer to 3 feet. In wind effected areas snow was scoured a firm P hard surface. The composition of the deposited snow was fairly uniform in northeast aspects at 1F hand hardness on top of a 4F layer on top of a melt-freeze crust. In hand shears and a ECT found no results (ECTX). Found the 1F layer to be variable in size, but the 4F layer was consistently ~10 cm in a few sampled areas. The snowpack was observed to be stable. With warm temperatures in the ravine as well as direct solar warming acting to promote bonding and the healing of potential weak layers. Testing was preformed in the area about 1445 and high point was 4630 feet. Found an ice glaze in solar effected areas that was easily avoidable due to good visibility.

On the other side of the ravine in Right Gully found the snow to be mushy in the surface due to solar warming. Observed skiers causing a lot of surface sluff and boot packers did not need crampons (although in isolated pockets reported needing to kick twice). The depth of wind deposited snow was 6 inches to 2 feet. The mushy, surface snow was observed to be moist and with dropping temperatures tonight expect to find a slick surface tomorrow in aspects that saw solar effects.