Incline Lake Peak

The storm started with strong winds and light precipitation. The combination of wind, blowing snow, and low clouds made it hard to see in open areas and on the summit ridge of Incline Lake Peak. We traveled across the peak's north side and dug into the snow on several open slopes at various elevations, looking for potential weak layers. We found a graupel layer resting on a thin crust just below the snow surface in all the areas we visited. In sheltered areas, only an inch or two of snow was on the graupel/crust interface. Near the ridge, wind slabs up to 4 inches thick had formed above this layer. Hand pits and observations showed poor bonding between the new snow and the graupel/crust layer. Ski kicks triggered minor cracking in areas with more wind-affected snow above the graupel/crust layer. This layer could contribute to avalanche problems as the storm continues.