January 26
Willow-Monitors
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7800-10200', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
There was about 4" of light density snow over a settled storm total of 10-14". Storm came in wet. Density decreased throughout the storm, leaving right side up snow, mostly stable. Winds during the later part of the storm increased enough to deposit shallow wind drifts and pillows on the lee side. The largest, avalanched naturally during the storm. Ski cuts were still releasing some of the lingering pillows.
Weather
Overcast skies and moderate temperatures. A few flakes fell during the day. Winds were from the west, occasionally gusting to around 20 mph but, mostly light.
Evaluation
Snow is mostly stable. Prolonged period of rain to over 8000' followed by dense heavy snow, eliminated most near surface faceting and the instabilities associated with it and the rime crust relationship. Some lingering instability would be expected from drifting. There remains an outside chance of a deeper release into older layering particularly in shallow rocky locations where old faceted snow was exposed to rain and hasn't cooled down and seized up.
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