CAIC Observation Report

Snowpack

Nathanael Martin ยท May 7, 2010

View on map

Weather

Warm, sunny, scattered high clouds, little to no wind except on ridgelines, temperatures in the low-40s (estimate).

Snowpack

Ascent on S/SE-facing slopes from Long Lake to Pawnee Pass. At lower elevations (10800-11000') the snow was quickly turning wet by mid-morning. ENE-facing slopes above the pass (~12700) showed no obvious signs of instability. Descent on short but steep ENE aspects did not trigger any instabilities. Remainder of descent was on S/SE-facing slopes to about 11700'. The snow was quite variable, from creamy spring snow, to wet velocity reducing snow, to soft shallow powder in shaded tree-areas. No signs of recent avalanches were observed during the tour. Steep, N/NNE facing couloirs on opposing ridgelines (south of Long/Isabelle lakes) did not have any signs of recent avalanches, but there were signs of cross-loading.