Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Experienced a calm day in the alpine complete with sunshine and stable boot-top powder •Minimal, isolated surface hoar growth along our route; although the surface continues to facet under clear, cold nights. Temperature inversions were present, although below freezing throughout the elevation bands. •Winds were dead calm with the occasional light breeze •Older windslabs were present and obvious along alpine ridgeline from past days of moderate gusts, but un-reactive and limited to propagation underfoot •A stout melt/freeze crust exists on solar prone aspects below 7000' (from yesterdays warmup) •Skied E and SE aspects (7400-6500') in stable, faceting powder. The surface consisted of weakening grains. •Overall, coverage and stability in the alpine is excellent for early December, but ingress/egress is an exercise in what we like to call, "backcountry pilates". Isolated, thin (<6") windslabs existed on leeward slopes above 7000'. Cracking was limited underfoot.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Below freezing
- Cloud Cover
- few