Date of Observation: 02/10/2017
Name: Paden/Pocock
Aspect: East, South East, South
Elevation: 9,500-12,200
Avalanches: Evidence of an older windslab, D1.5, pulled out below SE-E Gunsight into Evans basin, Feb 6th crust?, and another old crown D1.5 lower down on East face
Weather: SCT skies turned OVC @ 1330. Warm temps (45* @ study plot) and sustained strong SW winds, w/ peak gust ~74mph @ Scarp Ridge station…Felt it on Gunsight! Thankfully “R” started in town after our tour @ 1530.
Snowpack: Ridge walk was a mixture of windboard, windpack, suncrusts, rocks and grass. Strong SW winds blew the old graupel around and made for decent skinning if you stayed below the top of the ridge where the suncrust was mostly slick and locked up. Rollerballs on E/SE terrain by 1300. Snow warmed quickly as we descended into more sheltered terrain @1245, eventually (and unfortunately!) found the super schmo down low