Quick report
I did not observe significant avalanche hazards. The cold temps were mitigating any wet hazard potential from the sun. While there is a lingering PWL, it was rather non-reactive. The aspect I was on was not showing wind or storm slab development. None to speak of on the east aspects I sampled today. While sunny, the 15 deg temps were winning out and keeping the snow very cold and dry. Up near the summit I could see a few very small loose releases.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 15
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 7
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Incredibly day that cleared as it went on. Extremely cold (5) over night, with another cold night coming on the 11th. Go get some dry snow before the temps rise this weekend.
Snowpack
Astonishingly low density surface snow. The sparkly diamonds littering the hill were 6mm intact stellars, not surface hoar. Down towards the the snow surface from the end of January was a layering (see photo) of crusts. Most interestingly, at 80cm down there was a decent layer of rounded facets. While I've certainly seen more angular facets, these were on the scoreboard. CT failed on this layer on the last tap. ECT was a no. A PST went at 50/100 ARR on this layer. Bottom line is while that weak layer is there it does not seem to be leading to slope instability, as per recent tours and pits near Santiam Pass.