Quick report
We observed stable snow in spite of wind loading in leeward areas. We could not create propagation from shallow cracks or by dropping new cornices on loaded slopes below. No natural avalanche activity was seen today, even in known, very steep start zones.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 28
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- 3800
- Recent Snowfall
- 5-10
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Variable is the name of today's game. Light snowfall, winds gusting moderate, sunbreaks, and obscuring fog rolled throughout the day, changing visibility each hour.
Snowpack
New snow totals vary from 5-10cms according to wind exposure and we saw light to moderate blowing snow throughout the day. Many slopes are scoured down the ground as a result of strong SW winds earlier in the week. These winds exposed cornice roots along ridgelines in a dramatic way (see photo). Leeward slopes are loaded but we were unable to generate crack or slab propagation in wind affected snow with ski cuts or cornice drops. Snowpit tests yielded no significant results although we did find the stout 20cm knife hard crust from last weekend buried about 25cms below the surface on West and North aspects at about 5400 feet. On southern aspects where there is snow, it seems well bonded to the melt freeze crust from last weekend's warm up. On our way down the road, we noticed new rollerballs in sunny, steep areas.