December 20
White Pine-Red Baldy
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-11100', angles over 35°, north facing aspects
Snow conditions
Surface hoar was growing, once again, at lower and mid elevations.
Near surface faceting accompanied the hoar and was prevalent to the summit of Red Baldy.
Winds continue to errode upper elevations. Recrystalized snow can be found in wind sheltered.
Avalanche activity
Natural activity during and following the last storm was widespread in the upper elevations.
Most of the activity was new snow only, running on wind crusted old snow surfaces. Weak layer was light density-faceted snow from the early December storm.
Weather
Partly cloudy skies, mid temperatures. Wind was from the west, gusting over 20 mph along upper elevation ridges.
Evaluation
Stable snow was found in White Pine. Continual wind has scoured and drifted upper elevation snowfields.
Localized instability would be expected in drifted areas, particularly those covering underlying faceted old snow.
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