Quick report
Lack of solar input due to plentiful cloud cover and wind kept snow surfaces very firm today, despite traveling mostly on south aspects during the early afternoon. One exception to the firm crust is there are areas of breakable crust to boot and snowshoe, with snow that's well on its way to faceting a few inches down. This was found on primarily north facing slopes and and shaded areas. Small surface hoar was observed, however wind seemed to be blowing down most crystals. No new avalanches were found; however there are still plenty of glide cracks out there. Given the firm surfaces and lack of recent avalanches, danger felt about as low as it gets. Travel on the other hand continues to be adventurous over the crust and a uneven runneled surface, having ice crampons and ice axe in steeper terrain is very good idea.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Low 30s
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Skies were broken to obscured with high and mid clouds. There were moments of filtered sunshine, however it was never out in force for long. We even had a few flurries just after noon. Winds were at times moderate with gusts, especially heading up towards the saddle.
Snowpack
Very stout, call it bulletproof crust where melt freeze cycles have occured on solars. On shaded and northerly aspects, the crust is breaking down, with faceting snow beneath in places. Dug a pit on a NW aspect @ 5400 feet with at total snow height of 255 cm. 5 cm of 1 mm 4 F facets found beneath knife hard crust at the surface. Increasing hardness 1 F rounds with 2 separate crust layers down to 65 cm.