Route today was Grizzly -> Patsy Marley -> Wolverine -> Catherines -> Dry Fork -> Supreme area. Was focusing on the following:
- how widespread and sensitive were fresh wind drifts?
- was any surface hoar preserved underneath the new snow?
- could I get sluffs to run in the new low-density snow?
(Phone battery died very early in the morning, so no photos.)
Wind drifted snow is addressed above.
Lots of quick hand pits today as I was interested in if any of the reported surface hoar that had formed earlier this week had been preserved, and I could not identify any. It seems that the strong pre-frontal winds eroded any surface hoar. The faceted snow at the old snow surface is still evident, but the new storm snow is so low-density it does not form a cohesive slab and I could not get any clean shears with shovel tilt test.
Could only get minor sluffing in the new snow to move, even on steeper (> 35 degrees) slopes.
Generally Low hazard, with continued Moderate hazard in the upper elevations where there is recent wind loading. Winds are forecasted to increase later Friday afternoon and there is plenty of fresh snow available for transport.
Route today was Grizzly -> Patsy Marley -> Wolverine -> Catherines -> Dry Fork -> Supreme area. Was focusing on the following:
- how widespread and sensitive were fresh wind drifts?
- was any surface hoar preserved underneath the new snow?
- could I get sluffs to run in the new low-density snow?
(Phone battery died very early in the morning, so no photos.)
Wind drifted snow is addressed above.
Lots of quick hand pits today as I was interested in if any of the reported surface hoar that had formed earlier this week had been preserved, and I could not identify any. It seems that the strong pre-frontal winds eroded any surface hoar. The faceted snow at the old snow surface is still evident, but the new storm snow is so low-density it does not form a cohesive slab and I could not get any clean shears with shovel tilt test.
Could only get minor sluffing in the new snow to move, even on steeper (> 35 degrees) slopes.
Generally Low hazard, with continued Moderate hazard in the upper elevations where there is recent wind loading. Winds are forecasted to increase later Friday afternoon and there is plenty of fresh snow available for transport.