Quick report
I saw no signs of instability or current avalanche problems.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 42.5
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
Thursday was one more dry, clear day to cap off a very dry, clear month. It was pretty warm up high in the terrain, but colder in the morning at the lakes and below. There were Few high, thin clouds. The wind was Light from the Southwest.
Snowpack
The snowpack has remained pretty static throughout the month. It's hard to believe that it's snowed less than two inches in over three weeks! Sunny slopes have a substantial melt/freeze crust which softened up nicely. Much of the higher terrain that is shady is unfortunately pretty wind hammered from early in the drought. Sheltered and shady slopes and glades are still holding soft, dry snow. This snow has definitely undergone faceting during the very cold nights, but in looking at the grains today under magnification they mostly aren't well developed facets. In isolated very cold glades this surface snow is very weak. As new snow arrives this weekend, it'll be worth remembering that these weak layers are out there below treeline on North slopes. Avalanches associated with the new storm snow may be a bit touchier, or larger than we would otherwise expect.