April 25

Sunset-Wolverine

Elevation, slope angles and aspects

8200-10400', angles over 35°, northeast and west facing aspects.

Snow conditions

Brighton parking had 4" at 10 am. By 4:30 pm , the storm total was around 10".

The early snow was quite dense. Add a little clearing, it turned to mashed potatoes. Instability showers in the early afternoon added several inches of lighter density snow and wind. The old snow surface was not well frozen, prior to snowfall. The combination, by late afternoon, was producing sluffs which, trenched into older layering as they made their way down the slope.

trench

Weather

Overcast, with mid-day partial clearing. Early afternoon brought increased winds from the wnw, gusting over 30 mph along the ridges and snow, heavy at times. Moderate temperatures.

Evaluation

Dense snow is likely to settle quickly. Cooler forecast temperatures would, hopefully, freeze the soggy old snow surface. Afternoon wnw winds added drifting on east facing aspects. Would expect some continued sluffing, trenching dependent on overnight cooling. Increased wet slide activity would be expected with any period of clearing.

Any extended wind and or heavy snowfall will likely produce

sidehill

active wind drifts.

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April 25 journal

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