Quick report
- Cracking
- Observed
- Collapsing
- Observed
Traveled 7k-10k, mostly staying on shady aspects. I pointed my lens at many small and large starting zones on many aspects in multiple mountain ranges and I struggled to find evidence of significant recent avalanche activity. There did not appear to be enough consistent sun to cause a solar-initiated loose snow problem today, but I'd anticipate some sizeable solar-initiated loose snow issue with more direct sun. Recent snow composed of big stellars, largely untransported (read: great pow). Lots of snow for transport when the winds pick up. I experienced frequent cracking and collapsing involving the 12/13 weak layer (facets and surface hoar). However, the slab on top of this layer is still quite soft and relatively thin. In sheltered terrain collapses were less common did not travel very far, maybe a ski length or two. Collapses were louder and further traveled in terrain where the wind had built a slab in the upper snowpack.
Weather
Skies beginning to open north and west of the pass in the late morning. Scruffy low and mid level cumulus clouds passed across the sky throughout the afternoon, limiting surface warming. Steep low elevation direct solars likely took a little crust, but a lot of solar terrain didn't get cooked today, yes please!
Snowpack
12/13 layer down 20-25cm along the valley floor, and down 40+cm in higher terrain. Where the slab was thicker I received repeated ECTPs in the single digits (5-8 soft taps).