Quick report
With good visibility of a variety of aspects, I did not observe any avalanches besides the small cornice natural. Ski quality is good in the shade and shelter, mid elevations better than upper. Thin windslabs (5-10cm) were unreactive on small test slopes near ridge lines. 1 natural long cornice collapse at 9200’ E (see photo) from previous days did not trigger a windslab below it. Abundant wind texture but no cracking/collapsing.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 27 at 8500’
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Sunny morning and hot temps in valley floor late morning. L winds NTL but Mod out of the West ATL. Did not observe any wind loading. By midafternoon, clouds had increased and there were small squalls visible to north and east.
Snowpack
Isolated surface hoar near treeline but widespread SH above treeline, size 2-5mm. The sun wasn’t able to knock it down ATL. Below 8500’ on E and SE, a zipper melt freeze crust had formed by the late PM, but a touch of tree shade kept some pockets cold. I dug at 8150’ N (HS190) and found no propagating results. The Feb1 crust was down 70cm and failed on 0.5-1mm rounding facets between two 1cm crusts when I pulled on the column with my blade (ECTX). The slab above it was right side up F down to 1F.
Avalanche
Natural cornice failure along ridge from wind event, 200’ wide by 15’ long. 9200’ E.