Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

2-3 inches of new snow fell between 6 and 10 am with winds out of the east at 20-30 mph. The rest of the day has persistent clouds and snow softened only below about 6,000'. Show was deep and soft below 5600' and wet in the afternoon. Above 5600', the mountain was very wind scoured with almost all of last week's snow gone. Old skin trails stood more than a foot above the surrounding snow. Spots protected from the wind had drifts 1-2' deep. Some were soft and others frozen and hard.

On some east or NE aspects at 7700-8300', there was a firm surface layer 4-8" thick that sometimes came loose and slid downhill as climbers passed. There were a few recent roller balls (up to 2' in diameter) between 3600 and 4800'.

I saw no evidence of recent avalanches.

The road to Marble Mtn was plowed and easy even in a passenger car today, but it looks like heavy weekend snows may deeply burry the 83 road and Marble Mtn parking. It will not be plowed again this season so the snow park may be inaccessible by car starting Friday and persisting for many days.