Quick report
Above 4000 feet on easterly aspects, generally good stability was observed this morning and early afternoon with the exception of the top 2-3 inches of soft snow that was warming and becoming saturated on solar aspects. In these areas, small wet-loose sluffs were occuring through the day, especially in areas with exposed ice, rocks, and on very steep slopes. The snow on east-facing and south-facing slopes could be described as cream cheese becoming increasingly sloppy and wet through the day. As temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing overnight at the ravine level, the onset of rain overnight will have the opportunity to drive free-water deeper into the snowpack.
Very thin surface instability was noted in the top 1 - 3 inches of soft snow that was becoming affected by the sun and ambient temperatures. Wet sluffing began on steep slopes that face south and east below 4800 feet in elevation. No deeper instabilities were present.Weather
- Air Temp
- 38
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 2-4cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Clear skies were shining ample sunshine on south-facing slopes. Temperatures were consistently warming through the morning. Winds were light but gusty and keeping non-solar aspects cool.
Snowpack
On solar aspects below 4500 feet, the top 2 - 3 inches of soft snow was saturated by 10:30am. This layer rests on a thin, breakable melt/freeze crust. Dry snow was found below this layer, along with multiple other crust layers buried at variable depths between 1 - 2 feet below the snow surface. Warming and solar gain persisted for several hours after this observation and it's possible that saturated snow can now be found deeper past the shallow crust layer. However, it did seem like this near-surface crust, though breakable, was limiting the amount of melting happening deeper into the snow.
On shaded aspects above 4000 feet in elevation, snow on the surface stayed cold and mostly dry through the day. Some evidence of small loose-dry sluffs were left over from yesterday, but no new wet loose activity was noted on north and northeast aspects. In areas where the snowpack was not scoured, firm and supportive "windboard" was the dominant snow surface.
Boot penetration was variable between 5cm and 15cm, but generally provided easy travel conditions.