Mt Brown

Excellent visibility allowed views of the surrounding terrain, but no recent avalanche activity was observed. 

• The morning's north and east wind significantly damaged large open snowfields on Mt Stanton and sections on Mt Brown in the bowls that drop to the Sun Road and Snyder Lake and above the lookout. Dunes and drifts were abundant.
• Near the Mt Brown lookout, north and east winds stiffened the surface (1F) and eroded cornices near and just below ridgelines. However, most terrain facing west through south remained unscathed and low-density powder.
• Brief afternoon sunshine initiated small amounts of rime and snow to fall from trees. This solar input minimally affected the quality of the surface snow and only produced very small rollerballs.  
• Instabilities were limited to wind-affected snow near upper-elevation ridgelines.

 

Cracking occurred in wind-affected surface snow but did not propagate more than a foot or two. Collapsing occurred in 1F+ hard slabs formed from recent north and east winds on or immediately below ridgelines.

Southwest-facing pit at 6600 feet. HS=135cm. 30 cm recent F-hard snow rested on a 2cm thick pencil-hard melt-freeze crust sandwiched by small faceted grains.

East-facing snowpit at 7250 feet. HS=175cm. 50 cm recent and wind-blown 4F-hard snow resting on a <1cm thick pencil-hard melt-freeze crust sandwiched by small faceted grains.