Quick report
Although the sun was out we had cold enough temperatures to keep wet avalanches from developing. The main concern remains the surface conditions that future storms will fall on. Solars contain a breakable crust with preserved near crust/surface facets and surface hoar especially on indirect solar aspects (east and west). Polars have a combination of wind compacted hard slabs to soft faceted slopes. Much of these layers could be of concern in the next storm cycle.
Weather
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Mostly a clear week, with occassional high clouds. No precip with moderate to strong winds, predominatly from the NE.
Snowpack
Surface conditions vary amongst every aspect and elevation band. 1" breakable crust seems to pervade most solar slopes lessening to a thinner crust on E and W aspects. The solar aspects with indirect sun still seem to hold smaller facets (FC) and surface hoar (SH) on top of the crust. Many ridgetops have old wind board along with some wind affected snow on mid elevations bowls. In protected northerly aspects we found 10cm of preserved stellars along with 5-10mm SH and small FC (1-2mm). This snow is very soft and still fist hard. It sits above a 10cm layer of 4F hard decomposing fragments and some facetting grains.
Midpack had 3 very distinct crusts; 45down, 55down and 75 down. The upper crust is thin and decomposing while the two lower crusts are significantly thicker and harder. Snowpack seems strong with no layers of concern.
In the lowerpack we found 5-10cm of moist basal grains.
Avalanche
Lots of fast moving facet sluffs in steep protected norths. 1 small cornice avalanche observed, and some small wet loose from many days prior.