Quick report
We toured N-NE-E-SE aspect terrain in the upper Ophir Creek drainage today between 8,000' and 9,225'. We encountered the anticipated mix of 1 to 3 inches of soft near surface facets on moderately shaded to well shaded N to NE aspects and melt-freeze crust just about everywhere else. We were not expecting solar aspects to enter melt phase today, but that was not the case. We traveled some areas on SE aspects with sufficient protection from NE winds where melt phase was underway at 11:45 am at 8,700'.
We encountered no signs of instability on our tour. Scanning the surrounding ridgetops, we did not see any areas of blowing snow on the Relay Pk, Incline Pk, Tamarack Pk, or Slide Mtn. Driving down the Mt. Rose Hwy into the Tahoe basin, we could see small amounts of blowing snow occurring in the Job/Freel complex.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Cold NE wind when we departed the trailhead around 9:30am that was borderline uncomfortable on bare skin. By late morning the wind speeds at mid slope and on intermediate ridgetops had become light and air temps had warmed into the low 20s.