Quick report
Today's objective was to assess upper mountain conditions in the Avalanche Gulch / Green Butte Ridge area. As to be expected, the upper mountain snow coverage is excellent, though snow surfaces have been heavily wind effected. It was quite challenging to find a pitch of snow that was not ice, wind drift, or sastrugi. A surface crust is continuing to develop across all solar aspects as high as 11,000 feet. For cold and dry snow, shaded aspects are the only option.
When it comes to avalanche danger, no instabilities were noted. Though temperatures did become warm, it was not enough to produce widespread roller balls, pinwheels or any other sign of developing warming instability.
No instabilities were observed.Weather
- Air Temp
- 38
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- N/A
- Recent Snowfall
- None
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
A clear, sunny day with a strong thermal inversion in the valleys. The coldest temperatures were encountered in town, warming with higher elevation. A light northwesterly wind became noticeable above 11,000 feet.