Manto nevoso

Observation: Yellow Jacket

mark whiteSalt Lake
Vedi sulla mappa

Quick report

I was actually on the ridge between Yellow Jacket and Bowman Springs and made it to a elevation of about 9000ft, been trying to avoid people in more standard areas. The new snow from last night is a bit denser than the underlying snow creating a density inversion about 5 to 6 inches down, this density inversion is intensified in wind exposed terrain and in my multiple hand pits I was getting easy shears under the new winded snow failing on the lighter density snow underneath. There was also continued sluffing of the new snow on the steep N facing wind protected slopes. If the wind speeds pick up I would be suspect of E-NE facing slopes that are wind loaded. Not enough sun or heat for any wet activity in the terrain covered today.

photos: sluffing and one of my many hand pits.

Snowpack

Probably around 5 inches of new medium density snow mixed with graupel, dry above 7000ft on the N end of the compass, damp on all aspects below that on my exit at 4pm