Observation: Grizzly Gulch

Weather

Sky

Obscured

Precipitation

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction

Southwest

Wind Speed

Light

Weather Comments

Cloudy and snowy, but the sun appeared briefly around 3 p.m. Very little wind at the top of Patsy Marley

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

17"

New Snow Density

High

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Snow Characteristics Comments

Wednesday's snow was dense and well bonded. Instabilities from Wednesday had settled out.

Snow overnight and during the day made great conditions as it was dry and loose. The upper 3-4 inches was mostly graupel and would sluff easily.

Below 9000 feet the snow was taking some heat.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Decreasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

Soft slab avalanches of new snow were easily triggered on Wednesday. They mostly failed on low density snow that fell Tuesday night which was capped by dense snow that feel Wednesday.

This instability has mostly ended as the snow has settled and bonded to itself and to the old crust underneath.

These are great conditions to go to upper elevations for powder skiing and riding. I would not go ski mountaineering until the new snow sits for a while because the margin for error in ski mountaineering is razor thin.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

Wet Snow

Problem #2 Comments

Wet snow was not a problem today and won't be on Friday, but it will be this weekend as soon as strong sunshine hits the new snow.