Quick report
The last 48 hours of atmospheric river storm cycle has left behind 50cm (20") to 70cm (27.5") at the SWE study sites on the peaks with densities of 16% too 28%. I dug a pit and performed numerous stability tests. ECTN26, CT23Q3 and STM. Poor structure but good strength and little to no energy. There is quite a density inversion during this cycle and the 22% is sitting on top of the 16% snow, The storm started with a wet rime event and that is at the bottom of this new snow. There was also a quite a bit of wind with this storm mostly out of the SW to W leaving behind pillows and wave like surface features above tree line. Below tree line ski penetration was only 4 cm. Surprisingly good skiing on the wind buff / dense snow surface. No signs of instability were observed on these SW to NW aspects on my tour. Quite a bit of Southside activity with reports of variability in snow conditions. Good skiing up at higher elevations and setting up fast at lower elevations. It is Spring conditions with the best coverage I have ever seen in my 45 years of skiing the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. Cheers