Tamarack Peak

Once we gained the ridge, we noticed that N-NE winds had impacted the area more than expected last night. We saw wind-scoured snow surfaces and exposed crusts on open, upper-elevation slopes. These winds had even made into a few mid-elevation open areas, leaving a noticeable layer of wind-packed snow on top of the softer storm snow. These winds also moved snow away from traditional spots for wind loading, making the wind slabs and cornices that formed during the storm smaller. We still found some fragile cornices above slopes loaded during the storm on Jan 3. When we ski-cut those previously wind-loaded test slopes or dropped cornices on them, we did not trigger any signs of lingering wind slab instability. The most sheltered areas held softer snow and more consistent snow surfaces.