Grand Mesa

Snowpack

Colin Mitchell ยท Mar 17, 2017

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Weather

Warm and sunny spring-like day. No wind, which is quite unusual for this location.

Snowpack

The snowpack is quickly disappearing on the pass. South-facing slopes are bare. On the north side snowcover is hanging on, but Earl and the nearby road cuts are below threshold. The remaining snow cover is isothermal with a thick, mostly supportable crust. Mid-pack crusts and ice masses have broken down and disappeared, indicating a lot of water moving through the snowpack. Grains below the surface crust are moist rounds, or rounding facets. No avalanche activity observed, and no signs of instability. Not even a rollerball.