Snowpack

Observation: Red Baldy

mark whiteSalt Lake
View on map

Quick report

Wasn't expecting much but knew you had to go high to find dry snow, had no idea of the amount of graupel that fell yesterday afternoon and night. Went to the Tri-Chutes first and realized that all the graupel had rolled off the upper scoured part of the slope and pooled deeply onto the lower angled apron, but because it was still early and W facing it hadn't soften and loosened up completely. Decided that Red Baldy would have the same thing going on but by the time we got to the top the sun was hitting the W facing and in turned loosened the bonds in the graupel and improved the skiing drastically. There was some wet activity lower down in the drainage but nothing significant. All aspects where damp below about 9000ft, but it stayed cool enough to keep the high N, NW and NE facing terrain high and dry.

photos: graupel pooling, and large diameter graupel, good skiing and a video of some of the deepest graupel I've seen

Snowpack

The new snow was all large diameter graupel which improved riding conditions immensely. Rain snow line was around 8700ft, damp or crusty below that depending on time of day.