Delancey Ridge

We found generally very good stability and snow quality today, with the exception of steep, wind-loaded south facing features.  Here, the crust was more slick and robust, and afforded a lesser bond to the overlying recent storm and wind accumulations.  On seemingly all other aspects, the very weak crust is easy-to-forget, shows a good bond with overlying layers, and fine pow skiing prevails.  

Following the recent snow and warmth and yet more snow, the mid and lower elevations well east of the crest are coming into shape, offering more options for exploration.  

We experienced isolated collapse beneath our skis on small, steep south-facing features, where recent snow had been stiffened by previous wind effect. In these locations, at mid-elevations between 5500'-6000', the Solstish Crust (buried 12/21) was a bit more robust, with a fair to poor bond for the overlying wind deposits. We were able to initiate very small slabs and shooting cracks that did not seem to correlate with the snowpack on the greater slope scale.

Delancey south aspect:    Total snowdepth: 120-130cm   Recent incremental storm accumulations of 25-30cm over the Solstish crust buried 12/21(?), with a variable bond at this interface.  Crust ranged from very weak (lower angles and more easterly aspect) to a bit slick and more-supportable (steeper due south).  The interface of the 12/17 storm was evident with hand-hardness, down about 40-45cm.   Some rounding faceted grains were evident at this interface, but stability tests were unremarkable, with a much more legitimate test already almost a week in the past, with the widespread avalanche cycle.

Delancey north aspect:  Total snowdepth: 145-150cm  With 30-35cm over a very weak, nearly indiscernible crust, presumably buried 12/21.  The 12/17 interface was similarly evident with hand-hardness (down ~70cm) but did not produce any remarkable results in small column tests.

Storm snow was moist at Silver Star Sno Park, but became dry within ~500 vertical ft. or so.