Quick report
no instability noted
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Light southwesterly winds. A few stronger gusts above treeline at 2pm. None to very small amounts of snow are available for transport (all above ~11200'). No drifting snow was observed. Mild winds and temperatures allowed for a good corn harvest between approximately 10000' and 11400' on NE-N aspects of Abineau Canyon.
Snowpack
Personal time constraints and corn snow harvest timing allowed for no strict/formal observations today. KPAC noted that the snowpack is just about melted away below 8500' on northerly slopes. The snowpack felt vernal and isothermic up to nearly 10300' on our ascent or northerly terrain. Above that, it had more of a colder, mid-March feel. Above treeline, we encounter hard, wind-packed, and sculpted snow. There were a few unreative wind boards. We saw no evidence of recent loose wet releases above and near treeline in Abineau Canyon. Below ~11400 ', the hard wind-packed snow gave way to creamy corn snow around the 2:00 PM hour. Below treeline, we noted some old wet roller balls on E-NE slopes, likely from the big warmup two days ago.
The big avalanche of January 2023 removed many small trees in the lower portion of Crossfire Chutes, making for a much nicer line now.