Observation: Rocky Point

Went out for a quick walk to get a look at conditions between storms. Temps were in the single digits F at the trailhead. Northwest winds of 20-30mph were present on the 10000ft ridglines. There was noted crossloading on the NE as well as cornice developement on the ridgeline. I stomped around on some small test slopes and was not able to get much to budge, just some light cracking on fresh drifts and cornices. Things still felt a bit eerie out there with the current structure of our snowpack. My overall impression of the snowpack is that we have a mixed bag of rotten faceted snow on NW-N-NE facing aspects with some crusts mixed in for good measure.

The 5" of new low density snow did not do much to enhance the access or riding conditions in the area I traveled today.

It is still a good idea to tread lightly and keep an eye for rocks and sticks, the areas that were brown 2 days ago now have a thin coating of low density snow.

Overall I would say danger was moderate for pockety small slabs in the area I traveled today, but considerable in larger more exposed terrain.

With the weak structure we have out there and the forecast for increased loading I imagine the danger will rise rapidly and the world we begin to fall apart out there. I hear the weather is going to be nice in the PNW this weekend...