Quick report
A February day was host to spring like conditions. The snowpack has settled very fast with the warm and stable weather. In terms of snow and avalanches, nothing notable was observed to cause concern. Variable surface conditions posed the greatest challenge.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 43
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
The day was met with partly clear skies becoming increasingly clear allowing for strong solar heating and a high temperature of 43 degrees. Below treeline winds ware completely dead. Near and above treeline a west wind was experienced blowing at calm to light speeds.
Snowpack
I dug a pit on a south-facing slope at 8,000 feet. The height of snow was 95 cm (37"). The snowpack structure displayed a mostly homogeneous right side up structure, with a thin ice crust 37 cm (15") down. Solar lit aspects below treeline have formed a melt freeze crust that is decomposing throughout the day and dampening the snow three to six inches beneath it. This made for wet and sticky snow conditions on exposed sunny slopes near and above treeline. Shaded areas are more variable and hold intact crusts and wind effected snow. Terrain above treeline displayed large amounts of wind effect and firm surfaces. Rime ice ornaments cliffs and rocks.