Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

• Beautiful day, full sunshine, calm winds except above 9,500′ where there were occasional light gusts, and chilly temps (24°F / -4.6°C @ noon @ 9300′).
• Well-developed layer of sugary near surface facets on NE-N facing sheltered slopes from 8,400′ and up, along with quite a bit of surface hoar formation up to 3-5mm all the way up to the summit of Mt Downs at 9,700′. If a calm storm was about to come in, this surface hoar would be a stability concern … don’t we wish! …not for instability, for some new snow!
  

  3-5mm Surface hoar up to the summit of Mt Downs

• Dug a pit at 9,300′, nothing concerning stability-wise right now, but the layer of near-surface facets at the top of the snowpack will likely be a weak layer concern once we get snow again.
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• Great sugary facet (recycled pow) skiing conditions on NE terrain above 8400′.  Below 8,400′ was variable melt/freeze.