Date of Observation: 10/31/2015
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North, South
Elevation: 11,500 to 13,000 ft.
Avalanches: No signs of instability except for very shallow and isolated cracking in areas with recent wind drifting (only a couple inches deep) Not much in the way of avalanche concerns.
Weather: Few clouds. Moderate to strong ridgetop winds from the NW, but no snow transport.
Snowpack: Continuous snow coverage begins around 11,000 to 11,500 feet, and is spottier on south aspects. Total snow depth is generally less than 10″, but up to 2 -3 feet in windloaded areas. On southerly aspects, the snowpack is comprised of one or multiple stacks of crusts, with 1-2mm facets below or between in some locations. The surface became moist today. On northerly aspects, the snow surface is a mixed bag of wind crusts, sastrugi, dense rounds and near surface facets, all showing signs of surface faceting. The snowpack is mostly rounded and relatively dense, except in the shallower, wind protected areas which have 1 mm facets throughout.
Snow coverage on northerly aspects of Purple Ridge
Snow coverage on the west side and north side of Mt. Baldy and surrounding peaks