Quick report
Clear signs of previous wind transport at the ridge lines--firm slab formed on the W side of the ridge at the top of Hidden Valley chair. Got a brief view of Mt Catherine and did not see any natural slides, but visibility at that distance was poor. No cracking or collapsing observed despite all of the new snow even when jumping on small test slopes.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Rain Elevation
- <3000
- Recent Snowfall
- ~45
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
~12 pm in Hidden Valley: light to moderate snow (graupel) and light wind building to moderate. ~1 pm at Hyak Parking lot: moderate snow (graupel) starting to be pretty wet, 35 F
Snowpack
HS 60 cm at the top of Hyak (3750'). See photo of snow profile in the XC trails in Hidden Valley (3500'). Clearly there was very little snow existing at this elevation before this storm, but all tests failed at the same interface right at the top of the crust sitting on the ground. All tests showed low fracture quality and no propagation in ECT.