Observation: LSB North

Headed into Cardiff fork via LCC looking for some skiable soft snow. decided to walk up LSB NE facing and dig a pit in the starting zone. A lot of snow pits get dug in representative test terrain but it sure is nice to look at the snow right in the starting zone of a large avalanche path. Total snow depth was around 2 and half feet, on a 37 degree slope, NE facing at 10400ft, that was not wind effected, the new snow has settled out to about 10 to 12 inches then a disintegrating crust then another 9 to 10 inches of lose small grain faceted snow, then an even weaker crust with 5 inches of large grain depth hoar at the bottom. Multiple tries at isolating a column all failed on the depth hoar at the ground. On the shady due N the snow has rotted out so much that it is close to being non supportable. The surface of the snow on the N end of the compass is also faceting rapidly thus making skinning a slippery chore.

Photos: Snow pit, depth hoar at the bottom, cracking in wind drifted terrain and I won't make a habit af putting track photos up but I think we could all use a little stoke on this tough winter so far.

Settled boot deep powder on the N end of the compass in wind protected terrain, wind crusts and thin wind slabs on E and NE facing exposed terrain, loose faceted snow on all aspects except S facing which had either a melt freeze crust or was damp depending on the time of day.