Baker Creek

We saw several large avalanches that released during the recent storm near and above 9000' on NW-N-NE-E aspects. We saw one slide in alpine terrain on a SE aspect.  One avalanche was over 400' wide. The avalanches were focused in obviously wind-loaded terrain. Our observations indicated that the thin, early season snowpack is still adjusting to the weight of the dense storm snow. 

HS=50cm 6700-7000' (parking lot-E Fork Baker turnoff), increasing to 60cm near 8000' and 80-85cm on shady slopes above 9000'

Rain line and crusts: 2cm P crust parking lot to around Badger Gulch 7000', crust thinning especially near 7500', faint razor crust at 8000' and gone above that.

Surfaces: Mix of F/4F/1F DF and PP, and sastrugi/wind affected/wind board in exposed areas near and above 9000'. Cool clear weather was faceting the surface on most aspects above 8000', and there was a nice radiation recrystallization layer on S-SW 8000-8500' at 3:30PM.  

Low elevation: Very little "old" November snow below the recent storm snow, and it was moist/damp near the ground. 

Solars 8000-8800': See photo. HS=65cm. Thin (<1cm) layer of moist/damp early November FC at the ground, then about 5cm of early Nov snow (rounds) with a faint crust at the top. Then storm snow, generally 1F. ECTX. 

Shady 9100' (N-NE) in wind-affected but not heavily wind-loaded area: See photo. HS=~80cm. About 7cm of dry, weak FC on ground (4F-F), then about 7cm of harder Nov snow with some faceting. Then about 70cm storm snow (mostly 1F). ECTP12 at 7cm. The top of the early Nov snow at 15cm sheared cleanly when the ECT column hit the ground, but it did not fail when the initial failure from shovel taps occurred. The ground was smooth and grassy at this pit site.