Observation: NWAC Forecaster

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Weather Summary

Blue skies turning to scattered then overcast by 1pm. Clouds quickly building by mid morning, with a few graupel showers around noon. No blowing snow, and no loose snow to blow.

Avalanche Observation Comments:

Most observed activity was rollerballs, though some small wet loose activity from W facing slopes of Table Mtn near Diamond Head, and very steep S facing couloirs off McClellan Peak.

Snowpack Observations

We found a supportabe surface crust on all aspects with graupel encrusted in it. The crust was noticeably thinner on steep, north aspects but still there.
East facing slopes melted down quickly and were the most susceptible to wet loose avalanches. I could trigger small wet loose slides on east facing slopes even below treeline by mid-day.
Profile on a NE aspect at 4,800ft found HS of 150cm. Compression Tests didn't reveal any sudden failures, and moist snow stuck into place with other breaks.
Tilt tests did reveal a clean, planer shear about a foot down within a few thin crusts around the 4/8 interface. Water was pooling just above this layer, but the interface itself was still dry (see profile photo). No cracks, collapses or signs of instability.
Nice, smooth, corn-like riding conditions while the surface crust was still supportable. Conditions became punchier and less supportable shortly after noon.