Road Conditions: The road is mostly dry. Some mud and snow exists near the top end, especially in the parking lot.
Grooming: Grooming has been suspended for the season.
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Uncertainty, Risk, & Decision Making: before, during, and after COVID-19 - Read this thought-provoking
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24 Hour Snow 0" Weekly Snow 2" Base Depth in Gold Basin 63" Wind SW 5-15 Temp 24F
Weather: Believe it or not, SW winds are mostly light and forecasted to stay that way. Skies are clear and we had a good solid freeze last night. Today will be a scorcher with sunny skies and high temps in the mid 50's. The cut off low we've been watching is looking drier and drier. It will spin into our region tomorrow bringing a slight chance for snow showers. Friday and Saturday look mostly sunny with another slight chance for showers on Sunday as a Pacific trough drops down from the north.
Snowpack: With last night's solid freeze and overall lack of wind, today will be good day for corn. the best conditions exist on S-W facing slopes below about 11,500'. Some soft dry snow can still be found on shady, sheltered aspects but it's getting harder to find. Upper elevation, north-facing terrain looks fat and wind loaded, and large cornices have developed along the ridge crests of the highest cirques.
I've been observing a strengthening snowpack with stability tests not producing results on the faceted weak layer from February. Spatial variability is still a key component however, and there are still many places where weak facets can be found beneath a slab that is 2'-4' thick. Avoid steep wind loaded slopes and shallow areas in the alpine or right around treeline. Likely trigger points include steep convexities and areas around rock outcroppings, sub ridges, or along slope margins. The more radical the terrain, the greater the likelihood for triggering an avalanche, and I'm still not feeling all that confident about steep, north-facing terrain.
