Public Observation

Observation Details

Observations

Toured out of the Convict Lk TH today. Temp at the TH at 8:30 was 1 deg F. There was about 2 in of ultralight new snow on the ground. Winds were calm at the TH, but Morrison was flagging significantly from a S wind. No other peaks were flagging at that time.

Climbed up to the top of Old Man's Bowl. Above 9000' or so, 4-5in of new light snow was laying like a blanket over everything. The only wind transport that seemed to have occurred during the storm was on the ridge at the top of the bowl and was scattered and light. Several point releases were evident on the steeper NE facing aspects of the bowl, as well as on steep E-facing teerrain elsewhere on Mini Morrison. Skinning was really challenging - the dry new snow on top of sometimes hard crusts made for very slippery conditions. Ski crampons would've been great.

Descended the bowl and then ascended the Aggie-McGee ridge through the Hippie Trees. There was quite a bit of snow on the trees from yesterday/last night, but it seemed like even tightly treed areas had seen wind affect before this most recent storm. The only really hard wind deposits I found today were on this McGee-Aggie ridge, but there was still plenty of soft snow up there to be transported in the future. By early afternoon, winds had shifted out of the N but were still only 10mph or so. Descended one of the Hippie Chutes and returned to the TH.

Skiing quality was a mixed bag - I was mostly skiing on the old crusts, so where they were supportable and consistent, the skiing was enjoyable. Where the old crusts were textured or unsupportable, things weren't so happy. I ate it twice on the way back to the car and lost some gear. If anyone finds a pole or a black and gray skin up there, hit me up....

Signs of Unstable Snow