Hidden

Recent swings in the rain line have created varied conditions differing by elevation. Observations in this area note a surface rain crust gradually thinning while gaining elevation and the recent storm snow underneath transitioning from moist to dry snow. The most recent snowfall yesterday, March 24, was affected by both wind and fluctuating freezing elevations. This recent snow sits on a widespread rain crust,  from rain March 16 to 21 and then buried March 24. Observed instabilities are in the upper snowpack, above the 3/24 crust, within storm or wind problem considerations.

From the hydro parking lot near 3400 feet, there was about 12 inches of snow coverage on the main road for the first mile and increased from there as we gained elevation. At the Hidden Lake summer trailhead at 5050 feet we observed an average 140 cm snowpack height. At this location, a thin surface rain crust with 9 cm of wet to moist snow below. A partly frozen rain crust (from warm atmospheric river (AR) rain event March 16 to 21, which started to refreeze the night of March 21, and then buried March 24) was down 9 cm from the surface and partly supportable to boot penetration. 

At 5400 feet near Hidden Lake we observed, compared to lower elevation, a bit thicker and harder surface rain crust with 10cm new snow on top of a 15cm thick, P- to 1F hard, crust (3/24) with wet to most snow underneath.

 At 5900 feet on a Northeast aspect, the snowpack height was 258 cm. The 3/24 crust was down 20 cm from the surface down, P- hard, and 8cm thick. Snowpack test results showed easy to moderate force CT RP and ECTN results a few cm above the 3/24 crust interface. In both quick hand pits and formal snowpack tests, the recent storm snow appeared well bonded to the 3/24 crust. The main instabilities were observed in the upper snowpack, above the 3/24 crust, within the recent snow.