January 14
Box Elder
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
5000-11000', angles approaching 40°, all aspects but south facing.
Avalanche activity:
wnw facing chute north of the main cirque
Broke well down from the ridge. Crossloading. Deep enogh to have gone into early winter snow
There was also a small new snow slide
on the northeast face.
Slopes skied:
Northeast face and west facing mid elevation returning to the trail and Alpine.
Snow conditions:
Surface hoar found from about 5500'-9000'
Two
Three
Two layer riming. The layer attached to the branches is almost clear ice. A later windy period attached snow to the ice.
Bizarre.
West facing had a noticable rime crust just below the few inches of most recent snow. Wet activity, shallow point releases and rolllers were noted on sun exposed mainly below rock bands on south facing.
Bluebird with moderate temperatures and light winds.
Snow is stable. Future insability possible from near surface faceting and a sandwhich. Light density over high density over light density. There may be temperature gradiants between the sandwiched layers. Foecast winds may be enough to activate that layering.
