Quick report
No recipe for instability below 8,000', snowpack is largely thin and isothermal. Seems the warm weather is degrading some crusts in mid-lower snowpack, but layers of medium size facets still exist in that part of the snowpack and are reactive and propagating in pit tests. Previous rollerballs observed in steep terrain below 8,800' on NW aspect. Pit dug at 9,200' on NE slope, ECTP12 with energy 75cm from surface on bottom of layer of 2mm facets. No avalanches, cracking, or collapsing observed.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 37 at 6700' at 5pm
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Rain Elevation
- Estimate 8,500'
- Recent Snowfall
- N/A
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Felt more like October than December, both in ski quality and weather. Temps were warm, even at ridgeline in the alpine. W winds shifting SW in PM. Light below ridgeline, Mod at ridgeline and in the alpine.
Snowpack
Skiing to and from TH is still possible. From 6,700'-7,700' snowpack is isothermal and wet or crusty, HS ranging from 0-20cm. Wet snow observed up to 8,500' at 3:30pm. Above 8,600' snow is capped in a stout (P-K) crust ranging from 1-15cm thick. HS 8,600'-9,600' 75cm-150cm. Ample signs of previous wind effect. Pit dug at 9,200 on NE slope (HS 125cm) shows snowpack is still upside down with facets mixing with degrading crusts in the mid-lower snowpacks. Upper snowpack at pit site is a stout hard slab (P-K) of previous wind slab and crust. See Snow Pilot.