Quick report
The Noisy Basin Snotel recieved 1.4 inches of SWE in 24 hours, so I traveled there to see how the new snow was behaving.
- Found 6-8 inches of new snow and graupel.
- Observed light wind transport and slightly wind-affected slopes.
- Saw no recent avalanches, though visibility was limited.
- Sled cuts on steep test slopes did not produce cracking or sluffing.
- Talked to several parties of skiers and sledders, each reported minor sluffing or cracking as they climbed to 6500'
- Large column tests produced non-propagating results down ~1.5 feet on the 12/18 interface.
- Snowfall evidently tapered off in the morning.
Poor visability kept me and the parties I encountered out of the alpine. I imagine slabs were stiffer and more sensitive along upper-elevation ridgelines.
No obvious signs of instability. Talked to several parties that traveled higher to me that observed isolated sluffing and cracking.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- 4500'
- Recent Snowfall
- 15
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Rode through rain up to 4500'. Precip was in short burts some approaching S1 and mostly grauple. Light wind. Skies cleared over the valley on my descent.
Snowpack
Test pit at 6100' NW aspect (near Noisy Basin Snotel):
- HS = 195cm
- ECTN20,21 down 50cm
- Pit profile attached
Hand pit at 5400' NE aspect
- HS = 150cm
- Photo attached
Avalanche
Did not observe any avalanches, though visability was limited above 6000'.