Quick report
Main objective was maintenance on the Surprise Pinnacle wind station.
New snow yesterday transitioned quickly today becoming manky and forming a firmer, cohesive slab on S-E aspects up to 9,800'. Hand shears were failing easier on northerly aspects where the dust crust has a more productive and unstable interface (smooth and planar vs roughed and very cooked on W-S-E). This lines up with where the most avalanche activity occured today on wind loaded north aspects in the upper elevations. This interface could take a few days to heal considering the rapid, heavy load of snow.
Did not see as much wet loose activity as expected, only small ones around rock features. Temperatures remained relatively cool in the upper elevations. Warmer temps are forecasted tomorrow which will likely tip the scale and create more wet loose activity.
Travel conditions are challenging as consistent snow doesn't exist below 7,500'-8,000'.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R2
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- E
- Elevation
- 9800 ft
Observed one slab avalanche from a long distance mid slope and lookers left of the exit of the Snow Devil coulior. Details are estimated.