Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
In the valley bottom and the first half of our ski ascent, we encountered deep, light, unconsolidated snow. From the snowmobile track, we saw some small storm slabs which appeared to have released in the last round of snowfall. As got a bit higher (starting around 5,600ft) we began to notice wind effect, including some very stiff windslabs on small ridge features. We also began to see cracking in skin track tests in snow that was lightly wind-stiffened. Views to the other side of the valley revealed evidence of several avalanches in E facing terrain near ridgeline, including one with a notably deep crown, which may have involved layers below the storm snow. We could also see more dramatic wind effect in steep, exposed terrain.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Low 20s at trailhead, warmer near ridgeline.
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 3-4cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
We experienced a temperature inversion, with notably warmer temps as we climbed. We experienced little to no wind. Freezing rain began around noon, and was still coming down when we left the field around 1:30pm.
Snowpack
We dug a pit at about 6000ft on a W aspect. Height of snow was 59in (150cm). Snowpack tests revealed propogating results on the 1/16 (ECTP28) and 1/8 (ECTP30) interfaces, and we found weak snow above both of these layers. The Solstice Crust, which was about 39in (100cm) below the surface, did not produce results in our snowpack tests.