Quick report
Toured up Shadow today to see how the park snowpack is doing up high. After fighting our way out of the valley, conditions slowly started to improve as snow depths increased. There is about a foot of facets capped with surface hoar below 8,000'. Snow depths gradually increase to about 3-4 feet at 9,800'. A firm melt-freeze crust is present on steep solar aspects. Most other aspects are still holding dry snow. All surfaces have begun to weaken, albeit at varying degrees. Low to mid elevation north facing terrain has undergone the most severe surface faceting as a result of the current dry period. Above 10,000’, snow depths vary significantly with surfaces comprised mostly of wind board and some soft snow.
Dug at the top of the north chute on Shadow (NE facing @ 9,800'). HS = 125cm. The snowpack structure is poor with an obvious hardness change that is still identifiable with ski pole probing. However, we did not observe failure or propagation (ECT X), even after beating on the column repeatedly post test taps.
Exiting the lower elevations proved to be the most heads-up part of the day as numerous obstacles are barely covered by snow.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- broken
Greybird transitioning to partly sunny. A stubborn inversion is in place. Cold in the valley and mild temps above 8,500'. A brisk SW wind and clouds were keeping surfaces cool up high.