Palmer to PowWow

Ridegtop is heavily effected by wind transport since the last storm though wind slabs were generally unreactive today.  Probed for 2/2 layer and found it to be 70-80 down above 8,500', deep but not forgotten. Snowpack at that elevation averaged 140-150cm and was supportable due to pencil hard slab above the December drought layer.

Visibility allowed for distant obs with no recent avalanche activity nor any mid-storm avalanches observed from the ridge. Lots of recent and on-going wind transport with a few cornice collapses observed; we avoided the steep wind loaded slopes due to the recency of wind transport. Cornices have grown substantially and could be a trigger for deeper weaknesses in the snowpack. The No Name Peak D3+ avalanche may have started this way.

Snowpack is still pretty thin below 7500' but bed surfaces are growing and will be worth watching following the recent melt/freeze and any future storms.

One large collapse noted on a wind loaded ridgetop.