Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Traveled primarily westerly aspects from pass level to above 5k. Wet snow at 3k gave way to increasingly dry snow from ~3.7k and higher.

We were surprised by a number of filtered sunbreaks through the morning and some direct sun in the afternoon -- we didn't feel a suncrust anywhere as we descended to the car, but it definitely made solar slopes heavier, even at upper elevations.

Ridgelines and even well into the forest showed signs of extensive scouring by westerly winds. Tree-skiing at upper elevations readily touched down on the old-snow crust. Skiing on wind-sheltered open slopes, especially earlier in the day, was quite good.

Instability on our windward aspects was seemingly limited to loose-dry. Another party had ski-cut a loose-dry in a usual spot -- it ran on a storm layer ~15 cm down.

Returning to the car, we were impressed to find that the roadways had melted out entirely, perhaps due to solar input.