Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Snowpack ATL beginning to form soft slabs as more and more wind was present but little wind effect from overnight or NTL/BTL. Some cracking on switchbacks ATL on convexities and places where snow was scoured and the interstorm crust was more prevalent. See pictures. Skiing down the south face did not result in any cracks/slides. Graupel skied very fast and loose. Increasing wind was beginning to develop soft wind slabs in the top 7-10 inches of new snow. Most prevalent in ATL terrain where the interstorm crust from 01/09 was closer to the surface.
Weather
Increasing winds throughout the morning, mainly out of the north and middle fork side of Thunder Divide. Wind was inconsistently blowing. Overcast clouds kept sun at bay.
Snowpack
New snow overnight came down as graupel in the Snoqualmie zone. Maybe 2-3 inches of very uncohesive graupel sitting on another 7-8 inches of new snow from the 01/09 storm above an interstorm crust. Depth depends on elevation and aspect but the graupel was widespread. Loose dry sluffs running very fast in steeper terrain, especially NTL and BTL where less wind effect is present.