Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
The snow surface was incredibly variable today. Like on a micro-scale: each step different than the last.
- Surfaces included melt freeze crust, rain crust, small pockets of wind-affected snow, and to a lesser extent powder.
- Ridgetop winds were out of the NE, but we saw minimal blowing snow during our tour.
- As we traversed an upper-elevation ridge, we found very small pockets of hard slab (2-4" thick) on the NE side, and soft slab (4-6" thick) on the SW side.
- We did not notice any surface hoar at or near the surface as was reported in previous days in the Swan Range.
- Observed yet another glide crack. This one on a SW aspect at 6300'.
I asked my partner if it was the worst skiing of the year. They responded that it might be the worst skiing of their life.
Cracking in small pockets along ridge at 7000'.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 1
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Felt gusty winds from various directions in the parking lot. NE wind on the ridge top, though it felt like it decreased throughout the day.
Snowpack
@ 5800' SE aspect, HS = 130 cm
@ 6800' N aspect, HS = 193 cm