Aeneas

We went to the Aeneas Ridge weather station and then skied multiple aspects to track down surface conditions ahead of this weekend's storm.

• Unsurprisingly, we found Low Danger conditions—no signs of cracking or collapsing. Old wind slabs were unreactive to ski cuts. 
• We descended a steep northeast-facing slope and triggered a very small (D1) loose dry sluff. 
  • Sluffing was more common on shaded slopes sheltered from the wind. There was minimal sluffing on exposed slopes where wind and sun had previously worked the surface.

Surface conditions:

• Large surface hoar was observed on all aspects at middle and upper elevations.
• Terrain sheltered from the wind and sun was more faceted and weak than exposed terrain. 
  • We found about 8 inches of large-grained facets resting on a smooth ice crust. 
• The upper snowpack in terrain exposed to wind and sun had a mixed bag of facets and crusts.

Looking ahead:

• Conditions will be dramatically different and more dangerous if this weekend's storm produces enough snow to form a slab.