Quick report
Some cool natural activity from the last few days. We had good vis and were able to see many crowns on the surrounding peaks. Didn’t want to push it in these conditions, kept it pretty low angle. Lots of facets under the wind crust. No audible collapsing or cracking, saw some big natural crowns and old debris that was covered with the fresh snow from the last few days
Weather
- Air Temp
- 22
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- 3300
- Recent Snowfall
- 4-6”
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
The wind has been blowing in the middle fork in all directions and the snowpack reflects that. Easy to see wind loaded cornices and cross loaded ridges. The new snow didn’t move around too much yet.
Snowpack
As you would expect, obvious wind loading. Cross loaded slopes. Powder on crust that is pretty supportable up at mid/highish elevation. Breakable soft lower down. Did not go above 7K. Shallow pit shows powder/crust/facets/crust from the surface down.
Avalanche
Observed big natural crowns on SE aspects of Essex Mountain and the surrounding peaks and ridges