Lobster Claw

We traveled into Tuckerman Ravine on a south facing aspect up to 4500ft. We observed a similar overall structure to yesterday, with notably less slab-like cohesion in the upper snowpack. New snow blanketed terrain and where we traveled, new snow depth on top of the refrozen old surface was approximately 8 inches. 

Despite cold temperatures and indirect sunlight from low clouds, the sun was impacting both south and east aspects up to our high point and likely extended higher in terrain. The top 5-6cm of surface snow was moist and sticky, and balled easily on ski pole baskets and under foot. 

A rimed, firmer 4 finger layer 5-6cm down seemed to protect the snow below from warming and cold, dry and cohesionless fist hard snow from the past weekend was found from below this layer down to the old refrozen snowpack. Ski penetration while skinning was mainly limited to the 5 cm of new snow while boot penetration was down to the old surface.