False Ralston

With a cloudy and cool morning, I waited until noon to begin my tour on the south facing side of False Ralston. My patience was rewarded by clearing skies and a perfect inch of corn snow on the surface. The snow among burned trees below 7800ft was surprisingly clean and reflective given all the recent winds. Just below the surface was much dirtier snow. If this becomes exposed it could negatively influence melt rates. Also below 7800ft, in terrain that used to be forested, the lack of live trees is now allowing more wind redistribution. Above 7800ft where the trees have always been more sparse, snow surfaces were highly variable. Although I found continuous corn snow, there were also wind scoured and textured surfaces, firm crusty surfaces, and newly wind deposited surfaces. These wind deposits were small and shallow, though with east winds I only encountered cross loaded features and not top loaded features. Small plumes of blowing snow were visible along the ridge with every gust of wind.

Supportable, strong snowpack with an inch of corn in the afternoon