Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Strong south-southwest wind started stiffening the snow above about 9500 ft. and I found a few, isolated wind slabs sensitive to my weight on a near treeline ridge. These fresh slabs were soft (4F) and thin (4-14 inches). Older wind slabs from yesterday were stiffer (1F), thicker (12-18 inches), and stubborn. On sheltered slopes below the ridge, the new and recent snow was incohesive. I slashed several small steep slopes and sluffs only ran 20 ft. or so downslope.
Snowfall rates increased throughout the day, though the peaks were already socked in when I started my tour at 11 am.
I got a very small wind slab to break on a crossloaded, north-facing test slope in the upper 4 inches of new snow. It only ran about 10 ft. downslope.Weather
- Air Temp
- 20s
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Recent Snowfall
- 25
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Snowfall increased throughout the day and wind increased with elevation. Very light snowfall at the trailhead late morning increased to light with periods of moderate snowfall by mid-afternoon. Moderate to intense blowing snow from south-southwest winds above about 9500 ft.
Snowpack
See photo captions for detailed snowpack info.