Paymaster

We found reactive storm slabs on wind-kissed ridgelines today on Paymaster Peak. 4 to 12 inches of new snow fell overnight and landed on a variety of weak (shaded) and crusty (solar) surfaces. Where the new snow was touched by wind, we found reactive storm slabs and cornices. We triggered numerous collapses and long-spanning shooting cracks along the ridgeline between 8850 and 10250 feet. One of these collapses resulted in a small remotely triggered storm slab avalanche over 100 feet away. Stomping on fresh cornices also triggered a small but wide-breaking (200 feet) storm slab avalanche. We enjoyed poking around on safe small test slopes, but were extra heads up and avoided larger terrain that appeared to have wind-affected start zones.

Generally, the new snow was mildly sluffy and not concerning in sheltered locations

4-12 inches (10-30cm) of new snow increasing with elevation from 6500' to 9000'. This new snow is most consolidated in the bottom 2 inches (5cm) of the slab at upper elevations, where it appears the new snow flakes are quite rimed and dense (F+). This new snow rests on moist rounding near-surface-facets on shaded northerly aspects and on well-developed crusts elsewhere. The new snow was only acting as a slab when additional wind-loading had consolidated it enough to propagate failure on the new/old interface. These slabs were very soft and specifically on the leeward side of ridgelines and open gullies.

We dug a quick pit after triggering a collapse at 8850' on a NW aspect (HS160cm) and testing the new storm snow resulted in ECTN9 30cm below the surface on the new/old interface. The structure of the snowpack in this location does raise concern even if it's unreactive in stability testing... there's still a whole heap of weak faceted snow in the bottom half of the snowpack (but it was moist and rounding).