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Weather Summary

Grey, overcast day with temperatures in the mid 30sF late morning at 9500ft elevation. Dead calm in my location at 11ooam at 9500ft.

Snowpack Observations

Took a quick trip to the some north facing tree adjacent to the Chicken Wing cone from the Obsidian trailhead and made it up to 9500feet in elevation. Several of my lower extremity joints needed a break from the firm and jolting conditions that currently reside above tree line right now. For the most part surface conditions did provide some softness with an average of 20cm of ski penetration as I traveled up through fairly heavy timbered country. Anything that had been previously exposed to the sun or had been hit by shedding and melting snow from tree crowns had thin crusts. Snow was nice and supportable and provided a real nice quick schuss out back to the trailhead at the end of the tour. Probing around on N-NE aspects above 9000ft elevation there was an average of 140cm of total snow. The top 20cm of snow where not affected by shedding tree canopies was composed of near-surface faceted snow and was Fist hardness. The main body of the snowpack ~100cm was 1Finger to Pencil Hardness on top of ~20cm of looser faceted snow at the base. No signs of instability anywhere. Stomped on some old wind drifted and corniced snow on a NE tree line fetch area ~9400ft and everything was pretty well locked up. Turns were good and it was enjoyable. Dead calm morning and relatively warm mid (36F @ 1030am). Grey skies and diffused light. Overall snowpack continues to settle, bond, and consolidate under relatively warm temperatures with  some near surface faceting and loosening of the snow where sheltered and shady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc83ETj8m_A

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