settled snowpack, stumps and sunshine

We spent a warm, sunny day in Barnes Meadow today. The snowpack depth averaged 75 cm at 1900 m. Warm temperatures have contributed to a well-settled snowpack. A few melt-freeze crusts near the base of the snowpack are breaking down, with no significant faceting above or below. The temperature in the meadow mid-day was +2.7°C, even with these warm temperatures there was no new loose wet avalanche activity. The grooming from the Corbin trailhead was great, thanks Fernie Snowmobile Association! We found some sparkly surface hoar at the valley bottom near the creek beds. Snow depth may have been 70cm, but there were a lot of stumps and rocks that seemed to be at 69.999cm. Watch out for early-season hazards!