Picketts Junction

Toured low angle terrain south of Picketts Junction between 7,000' and 9,000' hoping that valley inversions might have helped to keep snow cold in this zone. I encountered a corniced rock feature at the indicated location and stomped on the cornices to see how reactive they were and whether they might step down after the 5-10' fall. Two cornices broke 20-30cm deep and did not cause any further fracture upon landing. A third cornice broke 50cm deep and I heard a whumpf when it released. A chunk of new snow broke where the cornice landed, but it appeared to release from the same bed surface on which the cornice broke. While continuing upwards, two whumpfs were observed at 38.76190, -119.90896 (8,200') and later at 38.76004, -119.90622 (8,400'), both of which I would describe as lower angle terrain with less tree cover than surrounding areas. In neither instance did I observe any cracking or notable subsidence. Some small (<3mm) surface hoar was observed in low angle aspen/willow forests. Hard to say whether it was intact given the size. Below 8,200' snow cracked underfoot while breaking trail, 2-10cm deep, presumably on the 2/6 rain crust. In shady locations this crust was already beginning to decompose. Thanks to the 2/6 crust and little new accumulation, skiing was mediocre above 8,200' and bad below.

Quick report