Observation: White Pine

Route was into upper White Pine, focusing on the current snow surface ahead of the Mon/Tue storm. On Saturday in Mineral Fork, I was finding near-surface facets (NSF) and ~5 mm surface hoar (SH) up to the ridgelines at 9,500'. Today in White Pine, moderate to strong winds scoured upper elevation terrain, so I expect the upcoming storm snow will not fall on a weak layer above about 9,500'. Warm temperatures have also helped erode weak snow at the surface at low elevations.

At mid elevations, I was finding radiation recrystallization (RR) on west aspects and SH and NSF on shady aspects, and these weak layers *may* be preserved in wind-sheltered terrain at the mid elevations. I hope winds on Monday are strong enough to erode all weak layers, but I'll be searching for possible weak layers that are preserved/buried underneath storm snow this week at the mid elevations.

Photos of

coverage in upper White Pine;

sluff below White Baldy;

plumes along exposed ridgelines.

We saw a recent avalanche below Lake Peak that failed in a layer of graupel that pooled below a steeper cliff.