Quick report
Overall solid snowpack found in Cutler Ridge zone of Ben Lomond. Some thoughts:
- Wind drifts from recent wind events unreactive to ski cuts and other stability tests.
- In areas with HS > 90 cms snowpack is strong and stable with a 1F slab
- In thinner snowpack areas faceting is occurring throughout the pack, especially in lower elevations.
- Weakest snow is right at the surface where the storm snow from this past weekend has turned to facets and surface hoar. This layer is 5-15 cms and is quite weak. In some instances, this layer is on top of a hard wind slab which may provide a bed surface for avalanching.
- Some wet loose sluffing mid-day off of south-facing Willard Peak
- Concerns going forward are (1) weak snow at the surface, (2) weak snow throughout the snowpack in areas with a thinner snowpack.
Photos of surface hoar as well as wet loose off of south facing Willard Peak
Snowpack
Widespread faceting and surface hoar well on all aspects up to 8200'. Rime crust from Sunday morning found underneath 5-15 cms still felt on some slopes.