Quick report
Headed over to Mile High Mountain hoping the overcast skies would keep the solar radiation to a minimum. Although temperatures were warm, the snow stayed dry at the begining of my tour. At about 1000 feet, increased solar radiation created deteriorating conditions with wet snow so I turned back. Observations below 1000 feet include a shallow snowpack containing faceted layers, buried wet snow, and decomposing crusts within the top meter. A fresh 2cm dusting of snow, on top of the crust that formed yesterday, contained 1-2mm rectangular near-surface facets. The distribution of these grains was limited to the protected valley bottom. With overcast skies moving back in the solar radiation never got strong enough to initiate any more than a few small wet loose/dry loose slides on S. aspects throughout the day.
Surface snow was becoming cohesive with solar input. Some rollerball activity on rocky S. facing slopes. Fairly limited and highly dependent on the strength of the sun.Weather
- Air Temp
- 31
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- Above 1000feet
- Recent Snowfall
- 1-2cm on top of rain/mf crust
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
The Morning started out overcast with high clouds. Into the tour, the sun poked out a bit more immediately affecting the snow surface.
Snowpack
Small surface hoar formation in isolated protected areas down low. Limited to the valley bottom. Any sun exposure quickly removed these grains.
Low-elevation snowpack was thin at only about a meter deep.