Quick report
Slab avalanche problems seem isolated across the landscape. The increase in winds today struggled to find snow available for transport in the Ruby Range. Some blowing snow was observed throughout the day at the highest elevations but fresh slab formation on north and easterly slopes would likely be small and isolated. The snowpack is faceting and losing strength during this clear weather period. Near and above treeline slopes have just enough support and depth for reasonable riding conditions. Below treeline terrain remains sporty and thin.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- light
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Mostly clear skies with mild temperatures. Winds notably increased just before noon from the southwest.
Snowpack
On the north half of the compass, snow depths range from 30 to 70 cm ( we traveled from 9300 to 11600 feet). The last few days of clear skies have weakened the snowpack. In shallow areas, less than 12 inches, obvious faceted grains exist 1-2mm. Areas with precious wind effects, or drifting, faceting is less notable, but small-grained facets exist on the surface, .5-1mm. Sunny slopes in the area at lower elevations have melt/freeze crusts at the surface. I did not travel across any upper-elevation sunny terrain, but they also appeared to have crusts.
We did not experience any signs of instability or overt strong over weak layering.
Avalanche
Numerous small debris piles visible below steep northerly-facing terrain in this area. I suspect most ran during the storm early in the week. A few small Wet Loose debris piles below sunny rocky features at lower elevations.