Quick report
- Red Flags
- Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Noted rollerballs and point releases on steep southerly aspects, as anticipated based on the warm temps and green housing. </p>
Dug at 7700ft on a protected north facing slope. Surprised to note a pretty distinct layer at the new/old snow interface. New year's layer was clear a bit farther down, with softer snow and graupel still present. Shovel tilt and shovel shear indicated good bonding in the new to old snow, as did the skiing in steeper terrain. Despite the F hardness sandwiched by 4F at the graupel layer, CT and ECT were both unreactive. Right side up snow otherwise.
Snowpack
Found a melt freeze crust below the new snow at low elevations, particularly southerlies, but this seemed to have softened by end of day. Otherwise, plenty of damp mashed potatoes in the low elevations. Snow was surprisingly decent above 7000ft, with consistent turns. Snow was drier and cooler with additional elevation (>7500ft or so), offering reasonable dense powder in protected zones.