Quick report
No large avalanches, shooting cracks or collapsing
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- 8000
- Recent Snowfall
- 20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Clear skies and cold temps. We observed minor wind transport of snow along the highest elevation ridges (10,000') in the Salt River Range
Snowpack
Height of snow at 7500 feet = 80cm/30", at 8500 feet = 100cm/40"
With good visibility we were able to observe terrain between 7000 and 10000 on all aspects. There was a noticeable lack of recent avalanche acitivity observed. This was pertinent, in that an extended period of loading (10 days) just finished up. Activity may have occurred earlier in the storm cycle and been covered up by new snow/wind loading by today.
A snowpit at 8500 feet on a north aspect showed no propagation potential, high strength and poor structure. Facets near the base of the snowpack were moist. We were unable to detect the "Christmas Crust" at this location, but can assume that it is in other locations in this zone, roughly 20-30 cm/ 1 foot below the surface.