Date of Observation: 03/08/2017
Name: Steve Banks
Aspect: North East, East, South East, South
Elevation: 9000-11400
Avalanches:
Weather: hot again…sorta. Warm on the South facing skin track with light breeze until 11,000. Temps in the upper 20’s with strong solar under clear skis. Above 11,000 there was a strong N wind blowing up to 50 MPH at 12,000.
Snowpack: 2 cms of new snow from surprise snow squall last night over semi-supportive wind and sun crust. Posed some gloppy skin issues going from sun to shade in the trees. Above TL the new snow added to previous wind loaded slopes, but isolated to right at/below ridge line. All aspects from N-NE-E-SE where open and less treed looked blown out, wind jacked with raised tracks in area viewed. Below new wind load (hundred feet below ridge line) quickly transitioned to wind buff, slightly breakable almost but not quite chalky. Lots of sustrugi everywhere.
Skinning up a more sheltered South facing slope at 11,000 the new skiff was moist and sun crust below was wet. Wetness did not go below the old 4 cm thick crust.
Steep N facing below treeline maintained dry snow, and faceting was evident. Some areas even felt a bit “trap door” and punchy, but this was not consistent.