Despite the skiff of new snow and wind activity, the avalanche picture is the same as it's been for the last week: user friendly. I did notice, however, that the upper 15 cm of the snowpack is considerably less cohesive than it was on Friday. I did not have my field microscope with me to verify, but it sure felt like there is some type of faceting metamorphosis happening. It doesn't seem like conditions would create conditions to produce it, and I cannot comment on whether or not it is widespread. It was deeper than the Near Surface Facets that I might have expected, and certainly deeper than Surface Hoar. Whatever the mechanism and type, the snow that I observed in the top of the snowpack while climbing was definitely losing cohesion and could present a discontinuity to any slab (wind or otherwise) that forms on top of it. It is something I will be keeping an eye out for.
Observation Date
1/20/2015
Observer Name
Joey Dempster
Region
Provo » Snake Creek
Location Name or Route
Snake Creek, Eight Ball
Comments
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low