Public Field Report

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Left for tour at noon and returned around 5PM. Start elevation 7,000, top elevation 8,000'. Skied/ traveled slopes up to 30*

Weather: broken sky which turned to overcast and snow (S2) towards end of tour. Extreme wind out of the SE at low to high elevations, resulting in intense snow transport over ridges, and moderate snow transport at lower elevations. On ridge skin track filled in within 30 min, at lower elevation skin track had 1/2 filled in over time of tour. Previous snow of 4" had fallen.

S aspects had a 1" sun crust hidden under the new 4" of fresh, skis were breaking through that 1" sun crust. New snow felt light and fluffy. NE face was soft all the way through. SE ridge was being loaded from wind, that is what we skied it was soft and deep. Snowpack felt stable, no cracking whumping or signs of avalanches.

Traveled over NE,E,SE, & S facing slopes. Skied SE slope.