Dust on Crust and Sunshine

Island Alpine Guides had avalanche course groups in the field today. Sunny skies, good visibility, light ridgetop winds, near zero temperatures, and approximately 5 cm - 15 cm of light new powder on this week’s rain crust. New snow was observed to be deepest in lee deposits near ridgetop. Sun warmed snow became moist and heavy in the afternoon. Island Alpine Guides accesses the Mount Washington backcountry under agreements with the landowners and operators.

Total height of snow (HS) at 1496 m on a NW aspect was 130 cm with 16 cm of light, dry powder on a 1 cm thick rain crust and the early season’s melt-freeze crust down 83 cm and expressed as 47 cm thick. Snow between the crusts was moist, consolidated, and firmly compacted. Surface forms were rhimed decomposing and fragmented grains. Compression test results: CTE 6 (SC) down 16 cm on Jan 3 rain crust. CTH 26 (BRK) down 30 cm.