Mount Emmons

Recent storm totals reached a maximum of 7 inches on north slopes above treeline, with significantly less accumulation at lower elevations.  Enough snow for some nice turns, but not enough to create significant avalanche problems.  Loose avalanches, dry and wet, released, but the size is small.  I suspect there could be a very isolated Wind Slab somewhere above treeline, but we didn't find one hunting around today. 

We skier triggered a small Dry Loose avalanche on a steep, alpine north slope. A small natural Wet Loose avalanche ran on an east aspect near treeline around 1 pm. I hunted for recent drifting and found very little. I got a few small cracks near a ridge top a few inches deep.

Recent storm totals increased from 2 inches below treeline to nearly 7 inches on north slopes above treeline.  Greenhousing during the day wetted the recent snow on many slopes on the south half of the compass extending to 12,400 feet.  The snow surface remained dry on north aspects above treeline, but most features near treeline became moist and neared wet below treeline.

I hunted for sensitive slabs near and above treeline and found nothing of note.  There has been some wind moving the snow around, but any sensitive slabs would be small and very isolated.  Loose avalanches appeared to be the most significant problem today.  Loose avalanches remain small and relatively easy to manage.

The snowpack on low-elevation northerly slopes was slightly punchy in the early afternoon.  Hasty digging showed previous meltwater has drained into the snowpack, but crusts remain semi-supportive to skis below 10,000 feet.