Clear, 7º, and calm wind
Observation: Summit
Location: Gilpatricks
Skinned up from small pullout on W side of road w/ USFS gate. Didn’t dig a pit but tried to trigger a test slope with no results around 2,100 ft. At that elevation, a crust was buried about 1-foot deep topped with soft unconsolidated snow that seemed to be adhering poorly to the crust. Around 2,500 ft, some wind slabs were present, but no whumphs or cracks.
Weather
Snow surface
Mostly settled powder over 12/1 crust with some wind slabs.
Light surface hoar was present up to at least 2700 ft.
Snowpack
ENE aspect, slope between 28-35
Test slope - no signs of instability
Hand pit - poor adhesion of soft surface snow to crust, no shearing.
Some wind slabs above 2400 ft
Substantial wind effect at higher elevations