Mt. Judah

We went to the south side of Mt. Judah to look for low elevation corn snow today.  Moderate to strong NE winds along the Mt. Judah ridgeline kept the snow surface from melting in wind exposed areas.  These winds seemed to be above forceasted levels and could prevent snow softening above around 8000' for most of the day.  The snow surface on the upper south face is a mix of wind scoured and textured surfaces that are not smooth.  These areas have not had consistent melt freeze cycles at this point.  As we dropped lower on the slope, smoother snow surfaces existed with better snow quality.  In these areas and other wind protected southerly aspects, thin melt freeze crusts are forming but are not yet well developed.  Conditions quickly went from a couple inches of soft wet snow to mushy and sticky snow conditions by late morning.  Spring snow surfaces are still transitional in this area and hopefully will improve over the next few days.