Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

4 cm of new snow on Mt. Downs on old crusts. Supportable old snow surface on NW  and N aspects where previously exposed to winds or sun. This sheltered forest that used to hold recrystallized facets and provided soft skiing now holds a 4 cm 4F to P crust over the F soft facets. Clear skies and L  SW winds. No blowing snow observed on Mt. Downs. The new snow stayed cold and dry on the N aspect up higher and provided some good turns for us. The new fluff became snow became sticky around 7900 ft. The few solar aspects we saw showed moist  old snow and sticky new snow on top of it.

We observed big snow banners on Mt. Wood, Carson Peak and all the high ridges and peaks looking W and SW from Mt.Downs. Winds seemed to be blowing at moderate to strong speeds from the NE at higher elevation.