Frenchman Creek

Today, we found generally stable avalanche conditions. We observed various breakable crusts, moist snow, and sugary facets on the surface of the snowpack where we traveled. We triggered a couple of small dry loose facet-lanches on steep shady N-facing slopes and observed a handful of small natural wet loose avalanches on steep slopes below cliffs that face the sun.

We triggered a couple of small, dry loose facet-lanches in steep N facing terrain (at 9300') and observed a handful of recent natural wet loose avalanche activity on NW facing aprons below steep cliffs.

We went out to clarify the distribution of various surface conditions (crusts, wet snow, and facets). Crusts and moist snow surfaces (often combined) are widespread on all aspects below 8500'. Above 8500', we found more specific distributions:

Crusts: We found widespread, unsupportable (to skis or sleds) crusts on all slopes facing the sun (W, SW, S, SE, E). These crusts thin and eventually disappear as they approach the solar margins (NE and WNW).

Wet Snow: We found moist surface snow that had broken down previous melt-freeze crusts on S and SW aspects. Moist snow sits on top of crusts on W and SE aspects. Damp snow was observed on NW, E, and NE slopes at the surface... and may become a thin zipper crust with overnight freezing.

We also found thin percolation columns (preferential flow paths) in the snowpack on a W aspect at 8600' (pictured)... signs that the heat was really cranking the last few days!

Facets: The upper 2 ft (50+ cm) of the snowpack is primarily weak, sugary facets. These are capped by crusts and wet snow in many locations (described above). Dry cold facets still exist on the surface on NNW, N, and NNE slopes above 8000'.

We also found widespread surface hoar below 8000' in the valley bottoms. Most of it is laid over from a couple of melt-freeze cycles.