Obscured sky, blowing snow and winds gusting to 20 mph observed until 2pm when skies cleared and winds became light and variable.
Observation: Summit
Location: Fresno Ridge
9:45-4:00
Toured up standard uptrack through alder meadows to Fresno Ridge. Opted to not continue to Fresno Peak after observing heavily windscoured and loaded ridgeline above the treed bench at 3000 ft. Compacted powder in the meadows, good skiing.
Weather
Snow surface
10-20 cm of light fresh snow
Snowpack
Class dug 10 pits in two different locations.
5 on a South aspect along the ridgeline at 2400 ft. All 5 ECTX, and one shovel tilt moderate down 20cm, snow height ranging from 70-110 cm. Dec 1 rain crust was identifiable but unreactive in PST.
5 on an East facing aspect at 2600 ft.
3 ECTX, 1 ECTN on 1-2 mm basal facets and 1 ECTP24 on 1-2mm basal facets. Snow height 70-100 cm.
105 cm snow height
70 cm snow height