Dust on Crust and Sunshine

Quick report

Weather

sunny, warm

Ride Type

denseTrees, mellowSlopes, openTrees

Stayed Away

alpineSlopes, convexSlopes, steepSlopes

Riding Quality

good

Snow Conditions

crusty, heavy, powder

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionTemp

Island Alpine Guides had avalanche course groups in the field today. Sunny skies, good visibility, light ridgetop winds, near zero temperatures, and approximately 5 cm - 15 cm of light new powder on this week’s rain crust. New snow was observed to be deepest in lee deposits near ridgetop. Sun warmed snow became moist and heavy in the afternoon. Island Alpine Guides accesses the Mount Washington backcountry under agreements with the landowners and operators.

Weather

Wind Speed

windSpeedCalm

Blowing Snow

none

Sky Condition

fewClouds

New Snow24 Hours

16

Storm Snow Amount

16

Temperature Trend

rising

Precipitation Type

none

Snowpack

Depth

130

Obs Type

point

Site Aspect

NW

Test Fracture

sudden

Site Elevation

1496

Test Initiation

easy

Test Failure Depth

16

Site Elevation Band

tln

Surface Conditions

newSnow

Test Failure Layer Crystal Types

crust

Total height of snow (HS) at 1496 m on a NW aspect was 130 cm with 16 cm of light, dry powder on a 1 cm thick rain crust and the early season’s melt-freeze crust down 83 cm and expressed as 47 cm thick. Snow between the crusts was moist, consolidated, and firmly compacted. Surface forms were rhimed decomposing and fragmented grains. Compression test results: CTE 6 (SC) down 16 cm on Jan 3 rain crust. CTH 26 (BRK) down 30 cm.