Pea Gravel Ridge

Snow conditions are very spatially variable right now around the south side of Mt. Hood. Wind sheltered, low and mid elevations hold softer, recent snow accumulations and provide better travel (except for solars that now have a crust). Upper elevations are heavily scoured and wind-affected. Instablitles were mainly confined to isolated hard slabs of wind-drifted snow that appeared poorly bonded to the underlying slick crust from the atmospheric river event earlier in the week. The best riding conditions were found on sheltered N/E aspects and sun-softened solar aspects by late morning. 

The extreme SW winds sure left their mark on the middle and upper elevation slopes of Hood. Unfortunately, outside of isolated wind-drifted locations, much of the new snow has scoured off or sublimated in the alpine. Surfaces are firm, and having traction, along with the ability to self-arrest will be absolutely necessary at these elevations. 

Sheltered mid elevations and low elevations do hold softer surfaces in the form of recent snow from the 25th and do hold more of a potential avalanche problem. Wind exposed mid-elevation slopes are where we observed evidence of slab reactivity with snowpack tests.

Digging around on wind loaded E/NE aspects around 6000', we received 3 different propagating test results on the AR crust, which sat 40-50 cm below the surface at this elevation. 

Outside of a few rollerballs at lower elevation during late morning, we didn't notice much for wet loose activity due to the scoured surfaces on many solar and west aspects. The sun was working its magic and these aspects provided decent corn by noon or so.