All avalanches seen are believed to have run during the recent storm cycles.
Observation: Summit
Location: Tenderfoot
Toured up west ridge of Tenderfoot to 3100′. Very poor skiing below 2000′, where the surface is a breakable crust or impenetrable ice where previous skiers have traveled. Above 2000′, the snow transitions to chalky powder along the ridge. Overall a nice, sunny day for a tour on Tenderfoot.
Observer Comments
Weather
19 degrees F @ 1300 at Tenderfoot CG. Calm wind, partly cloudy skies. No precip.
23 degrees F @ 1600 at Tenderfoot CG. Calm wind, partly cloudy skies. No precip.
Snow surface
Breakable ~1" crust below 2000'. Snow line is at about 2000'. Crust can be found below Tuesday's new snow to about 3000'. Widespread surface hoar growing at all aspects and elevations traveled.
Snowpack
Dug on a SW aspect at 3100', 23 degree slope. HS=90 cm. ECTP18 down 65 cm on 3mm Thanksgiving facets. The propagation was very "energetic". Buried surface hoar was found in the pit, but was not reactive in stability tests.
Pit at 3100'. ECTP18 down 65cm on 3mm Thanksgiving Facets. Very energetic failure.
Hand pit at 2200'. Two layers of buried surface hoar found intact. Failed with easy force.
Snow line in the Summit area is at about 2000'.
Crust and surface hoar at ~1500'.
Some sastrugi around 2500'.
Crust and surface hoar at 2500'. Crust was exposed by wind in this spot.
Debris on South aspect of Butch.
Wind skin above treeline.