Snowpack

Lick Creek

Kevin StudleySalmon River Mountains
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Quick report

Dry loose snow (sluff) was moving easily on steep test slopes.

Weather

Cloud Cover
overcast
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
15-25
Snow Avail For Transport
moderate amounts

A spectacular day to be out in the mountains. Snowing steadily upon leaving the lot at 0930. Winds were very calm all the way up to 8100'. Consistent light snowfall all day long. Snowfall was not accumulating below 7000' as of 1630. Precipitation was intensifying on our ride out.

Snowpack

We dug two pits today and traveled across multiple elevation bands. Overall, we observed the continuing trend of strengthening in the middle and lower portion of the snowpack. Weak snow still rests underneath a slab of very dense snow several feet thick. Triggering an avalanche within this old, weak snow would be extremely difficult due to a thick rain crust and the very dense slab of snow from January. Our primary concern is 15-30 cm (6-12") of dry loose snow sitting atop the recent rain crust. This very light and loose snow was moving easily in steep terrain.