Quick report
45cm of new snow, right side up. East slopes were sun affected in the morning and west slopes were still cold in the afternoon. We observed small wind slabs on flat ridgeline terrain. We did not observe cracking or collapsing. We suspected a graupel layer at the old/new snow interface. While we found it in our pit, it was nonreactive. New graupel fell at 7800-8700ft as the storm returned around 1200-1300. Recent natural loose dry point releases from cliffs and tree bombs in terrain >45deg. Loose dry sluff triggered by skiing 35+deg slopes, which were not large enough to carry a skier or knock one off their feet.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 24
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 49
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
The morning provided ample sun through scattered clouds and calm winds. The clouds and storm gradually returned beginning at 1200 and by 4pm there were moderate winds from the SW and snowfall rates of at least 2cm/hr. New graupel preceded the new snowfall, observed from 7800-8700ft 1200-1300.
Snowpack
Height of new snow around 45cm at both 7165ft and 8500ft around 0900. An additional 4cm of snow fell by 1630 at 7165ft. The storm snow was right side up, sitting on a wet crust. We observed graupel falling in Christmas Valley late last evening and dug a test pit at 10:50 to determine the reactivity of the new/old snow interface. 8500ft, east aspect, 13deg. ECTN1@10cm down; ECTN17@25cm down; ECTN22@45cm down (new/old snow interface, graupel present in failure crack).
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Type
- L
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 8500 ft
Several natural loose dry point releases from cliffs and tree bombs