Snowpack

Observation: Cutler Creek

GagneOgden
View on map

Quick report

Wind drifts on a variety of aspects, but all unreactive to stability tests. Thickness and hardness varied, some were up to 30 cms and pencil-hard. Given the amount of wind in this area from the past few days, I was surprised to still find plenty of soft, settled snow. Made it as high as 8900' today, and everywhere we traveled hazard was Low as the only avalanche problem we encountered were fresh wind drifts that were all unreactive. We did notice a few small, wet-loose slides coming off of solar aspects on Willard Peak (photo) but overall the dense storm and wind-blown snow seemed unaffected by the warm sun and lack of wind.

The storm snow from Friday was sitting on top of a hard surface, so I would think any wet activity would be shallow and would run on top of this harder crust.

There was plenty of evidence of wind-loading on the steep northeastern aspects between Ben Lomond and Willard, and I would be reluctant to jump into this steep wind-loaded, upper-elevation terrain.

Snowpack

Surface hoar developing down low in drainages, with faceting at the surface on shady aspects. Settled storm snow ~15 cms. Southeast through west aspects dampened, with a thin crust likely on Monday morning on these aspects.