Date of Observation: 11/30/2015
Name: Evan Ross
Aspect: East
Elevation: 9,800-12,800
Avalanches: Natural sloughing in steep terrain and a few small cornice falls.
Weather: 3 hoods 4 jackets and a thick puffy kind of cold. Mostly Cloudy (7/8th) sky with very light snowfall at times. At 12,800ft winds were light from the west between 1pm and 2pm. At lower elevations winds were calm to light throughout the day.
Snowpack:Â Above Treeline: Previous South to West winds have transported the new snow into drifts on lee features and build soft cornices. These drifts were around 18″ deep and more cohesive then a few days ago, but still very soft. Pushed on many pillows at ridgeline with no movement. Cornice falls and sloughs also didn’t propagate into a slab.
Average storm totals in the SE-E above treeline bowl that we traveled were in the 10″ range. Most of the new snow looked like it drifted out of South to West terrain were it was exposed to previous winds.
Below Treeline: The snowpack is still weak and shallow. No avalanche problems observed.