Mt. Wood

Today we assessed last night's refreeze, and the speed and extent of today's warm up on mostly south - east aspects from 7000' to 11000'. 

• Last night's refreeze was very superficial below 8500' north and south where there is snow present. The snowpack was isothermal below 8500', with boot pen mostly to ground at 8:30 am. The refreeze was just enough for ski pen to be 0 cm at this time. 
• As we increased elevation, supportable surface crusts over moist and wet snow thawed quickly as temperatures rose. Sunlight was the largest contributer to warming. Slopes shaded by trees even on south and east slopes maintained frozen surfaces at 9500' at 10:00 am, T air 48ºF in the shade. Slopes in direct sun had up to 5 cm of melt at the surface by this time. 
• Between 11 am and 12 pm, all slopes traveled were receiving ample amounts of sun. 10 - 15 cm of wet snow was present over still frozen melt-freeze crust @ 11,000', T air 46ºF. The wet surface snow was mushy and sticky. Ski pen was 15 cm. Boot pen was 45 cm. 
• Rollerballs naturally occured in multiple places - beginning on east facing cliffs above 11,000', near 11 am. At 12 pm, we witnessed a rockfall event (small) which turned us around. 
• No confirmed new wet loose avalanches occured where we traveled today. Many small wet loose were observed, however they were visible @ 7:30 am, having me believe they occured before today. 
• It was easy to trigger very small slides in low angle terrain. New snow was sliding underfoot at the interface of wet melt forms and still frozen melt-freeze crust (up to 15 cm). 
• Snow was sticky below 9500' whilst descending @ 1 pm. Boot pen was to the ground, and ski pen ranged from 5 cm to 35 cm. We found isolated areas of refreezing surfaes on shaded, northerly terrain. This refreeze was supportable to skis, but boot pen was still to the ground.