Toured from 8,400′ to 10,500′ on NE aspect of Red Mtn, aiming for sheltered trees and to hunt for recent wind deposits near the ridgeline. Although winds were strong out of the SW at the ridgeline, no visible wind transport of snow what-so-ever here, and no recent deposits found. On the drive however saw a handful of spots with blowing snow near mid and upper elevation ridges, including over McGee Mtn ( https://youtube.com/shorts/QtVFQQ9aZ2Y?feature=share )and the Nevahbe Ridge, and the lookers-left ridge top of Red Mtn from Crowley. Of course couldn’t tell if all the snow was sublimating, or if there were new wind deposits forming, but could only assume there would be some isolated pockets of fresh deposit.
Less overall snow here than the Mammoth area:
~1ft total snow depth (HS) at 8400′.
Shallow snow at 8,400′ – Red Mtn
~3ft HS @ 9,600′ (ENE aspect)
~4ft HS @ 10,000′ (NE aspect) with thin layer of looser surface facets and another looser layer deep down ~10-12″ above the ground.
Anything due east or south of east had melt-freeze surface, while anything north of east had no solar effects and varied from stiff wind-board to soft surface facets.
Dug a pit at 10,400′ on a NE aspect to check on deep facets here. 150cm HS, ECTX, but modified deep tap ECTP21 at the top of the facets. Very unlikely a human could trigger a failure, but still weakness down there.
Surface faceting in sheltered mid-elevation trees made for some good turns :-)
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Weather Summary
Relatively warm day, near 0°C at 10,000′ at 2pm. Consistent strong SW winds at ridgeline, calm in sheltered trees just below ridgeline. Increasing high clouds throughout the day, but no precipitation as of 3pm.