Snowpack

Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Mark StaplesSalt Lake
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Quick report

Winds were drifting snow. Drifts were small in area, but I consistently measured them ~14 inches deep. At Twin Lakes Pass, winds were drifting snow and growing the cornices but didn't seem to be forming slabs under the cornices. New snow generally seemed well bonded to crust underneath the new snow. I suspect there are some soft slabs of wind drifted snow at the highest elevations near upper LCC where the most snow fell.

Photo below of drift at 9100 feet along the skin track.

There is a huge difference in crusts under the new snow on north vs south aspects. Photos below show a N aspect vs S aspect. In both places the new snow seemed well bonded to the ice crusts. When the sun and warm temps finally return, shallow, loose wet avalanches should run on these crust very easily.

Snowpack

Conditions skied a lot better than I expected even though you could feel the hard crust underneath. Southerly aspects felt like solar radiation was penetrating the new snow and warming it enough to give it a little body. The surface snow stayed cold with such cold air temperatures.

Low angle slopes skied great.

12 cm (5 inches) of snow at 9000 feet

16 cm (6 inches) of snow at 9900 feet