Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Stars aligned for another morning photo trip to the pass. Alpental control work was extensive and comprehensive -- watching them work brought home exactly how professional and consequential that operation is. In a nutshell, they seemed to get extensive reactive results at upper elevations and found plenty of wetter instability down low.

Roads and parking lots this morning were slush. Snow at pass level had 8 (Hyak)- 15 (Alpental) cm of soggy new snow atop the crust. Moderate wet snowfall at daybreak became light rain with sunbreaks by noon. Low clouds impeded visibility of the upper peaks substantially.

A quick perusal of the backcountry images didn't turn up any natural crowns, but the results of active control work suggest that slopes in the backcountry are only waiting for a trigger.