SW aspect approach gully had old wet loose debris throughout its length and apron. No signs of current instability.
Observation: Girdwood
Location: Jewel Glacier
Snow line at 3500′. Semi supportable 2cm rain crust from 3500′ to 4250′. High density pow above 4250+ with minimal wind effect. Generally good skiing conditions above 4300′, but 4000′ cloud level and flat light created very challenging skiing and skinning conditions.
Observer Comments
Weather
Overcast with cloud ceiling at 4200'. Clouds rolling through created very poor visibility on the glacier. Lightly snow started @ 2 pm. Moderate winds from SSW
Snow surface
Snow line at 3500'. Semi supportable 2cm rain crust from 3500' to 4250'(top of approach gully marked immediate change from rain crust to settled/wind packed pow). Surface of rain crust was somewhat rough from wind scouring and decomposition. High density settled pow above 4250. Slight cracking around skis of upper 2" windslab. Extremely poor visibility prevented seeing a more holistic view of surface conditions in the area.
Snowpack
No formal pits dug. Pole probes above 4200' showed roughly 1 meter of snow on glacier. Hand pits generally revealed ~16" of settled pow (p hard) above a softer (1F?) 1" layer of preserved stellar dendrite. Hand pits failed at this interface with moderate force.
Looking down towards Jewel Lake and the Crow Pass Cabin
Low coverage below 4200'
SW aspect approach gully with old wet loose debris
good surface conditions on the glacier