Quick report
Eerie snowpack out there. Storm slabs were heavy, dense, and upside down. New snow over the last 36 hours ranged from 10-14" with up to 18" in heavily wind-drifted zones from 8,000-9,000'. Hand shear tests broke on isolation or pulled off easy, both on density changes mid storm or on the new to old snow interface (crusts or decomposed fragments). Slab character stiffened significantly since yesterday and presented no signs of instability (false security). The storm slab felt elastic and capable of producing a large, well-connected avalanche. We all agreed, the storm snow felt ripe for triggering, although more stubborn than yesterday.
Light snowfall tapered off by 12:00 as blue skies emerged from the storm. Strong, gusty and erratic winds were out of the southwest. Wind intensity was finally letting up slightly by the early afternoon. Snow totals today were under-forecasted.