January 10
Spruces to Soldier Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6200-9000', Slope angles over 35 °, all aspects
Avalanche activity:
Shallow wind drifts along the ridges extending a bit onto lee slopes. One small natural was discovered on the steep side of the creek
below 8500'. No other activity.
Slopes skied:
Reynolds face, Fred's birthday chute, Soldier main face and east facing Soldier Fork, exiting out Millcreek.
Snow conditions:
Good overnight setlement of the density inversion. There was up to about 16" above the old crusted snow surface. Snow did receive some heating but, no crusting was noted.
Weather:
Partly cloudy early with clouds lowering during the day. Moderate temperatures. Winds from the wsw less than 20mph along 9000' ridgelines. Little wind off the ridges
Evaluation:
Stable snow. Hasty hand pits and frequent probing indicate solid layering without old snow weakness. Future instability would be from increased wind load on lee slopes and or poor bonding of any new snow to the present soft and settled surface.
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