Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Toured the N-facing side of the Tatoosh near Pinnacle and The Castle. Soft, but wind affected snow was the norm above treeline with a number of locations stripped down to the late January crust near ridgeline and occasionally in open areas at lower elevation. Observed very isolated shooting cracks in ~8cm deep wind slabs on some cross-loaded terrain, but other than that the surface snow was generally stable above the late January crust. An ECT on a NE slope just below Pinnacle Peak at 5900' showed propagation ECTP22 on the layer of facets below the uppermost crust with ~40 cm of 1F snow above. As expected, things were quite warm, but shaded slopes were still holding dry snow with no apparent crust formation by ~1:30 PM. Anywhere with the slightest bit of sun saw wet surface snow and crusts forming as they transitioned back into the shade.