Overcast, very light east winds along ridge proper and calm below.
Temps in the single digits to teens along ridgeline.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Seattle Ridge - Repeat Offender
Toured up into the Repeat Offender start zone to take a look at the snow structure in anticipation of the next storm (2+ feet from Sun to Mon eve…12/11 to 12/12).
Weather
Snow surface
Variable...
Soft settled powder from the top of alders and below.
Wind crust from 1-5" or more in exposed areas above the alder/tree line.
Snowpack
Wind slabs formed yesterday with the NW outflow wind event seemed to be stubborn and non-reactive.
We dug one pit at 2,400' on a SE facing slope with a 38 degree slope angle.
Snow depth was 110cm (3ish feet)
EXTN 4 at 15cm down - wind slab
ECTP 30+ (hit the block very hard after 30 taps) at 45cm down (16"). Failed in facets between two thin crust layers (5mm thick each ish) at the top of the Thanksgiving series of crusts found here. Facets were 1mm and not too scary seeming.
In short - no concerning pit results for today. What we are really interested in is if there is a deeper layer that could be reactive with a large load of snow on top, which may occur this Monday.
Looking at the snow structure in the start zone of Repeat Offender
Around 3 feet of settled snow exists with the top 1.5' being susceptible to overloading
Significant wind effect above the alderline. Photo Carolyn Spencer
Looking into Zero (Mama's) Bowl - very scoured from the NW winds. In fact scoured to the Thanksgiving Crust...
Seattle Ridge up-track. Still a bit thin and shaggy but getting whiter....