Quick report
Today's objective was a field training day with all WCMAC forecasters in one location. We traveled through all aspects at the upper elevation and found an overall shallow snowpack of 2-4 feet in depth. In most areas, it is comprised of weak sugary facets from top to bottom. On the south aspects, there are a few supportable buried crusts throughout the snowpack.
Of note, the surface hoar layer observed 12.22 has been buried and preserved on north aspects sheltered from the wind.
We dug on a north aspect about a quarter mile from where we dug on 12.22 and found a similar structure, but a slightly more cohesive slab above weak November snow. We were able to get propagation in propagation saw tests but no propagation on extended column tests. While unlikely and very isolated, any avalanche on this layer would make for a nasty ride through logs and rocks.
We did not see signs of instability.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 5
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
A cold fog obscured the sky through the morning at all elevations. By noon, skies had cleared above 7500' with broken cloud cover. Winds were moderate except winds through saddles where speeds pushed into the strong category out of the south. No new snow in the past 12 hrs but 5cm (2 inches) in the last 24 hours.