Snowpack

Stevens Peak

Travis FeistCentral Sierra Nevada
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Quick report

Cracking
specific

We toured on generally east facing terrain between 7400 and 8800ft today, and found a trace to 3" of low density new snow in wind sheltered areas. On most aspects this was on top of a crust with variable supportability. When we were just slightly more north facing, the crust was weak and/or non-existent. As we gained the alpine, visibility was reduced by blowing snow. A long wind loaded test slope produced unstable results as I moved along it and tested multiple sections of it. Cracking and slab failures were still very shallow, at the new/old interface. Snowfall rates and wind intensity increased noticeably around noon.

Failure of a wind loaded test slope, with downslope displacement about the extent of the feature

Weather

Cloud Cover
obscured
Wind Loading
light
Recent Snowfall
5cm
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Light snow showers increasing mid-day, with moderate west winds

Snowpack

A trace to 3" of new low density snow