January 12

Alta guard station-Eyebrow-Cardiac pass-Mill B south-S curve

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

6200-10600', angles over 35°, all aspects.

Snow conditions

Upper elevations were crusted on all aspects, the result of wind and cooling.

Mid elevations retain some soft damp powder in sheltered areas, much of it capped with a thin mf crust.

Lower elevations were damp, same as above, capped with a crust.

Weather

Overcast skies, mild temperatures.

spindrift

spindrift

Winds from the west, gusting over 30 mph.

Avalanche activity

Several slides were observed on west facing slopes in Mill B south.

wfacing

These were likely the result of sun warming and the weak shallow wind drifted snow described in the

January 10 field ob.

No other instabilities were observed.

Evaluation

Snow was stable in the area. Instabilities would be limited to recent shallow wind drifting.

A determined person could probably find an isolated area with deeper potential instability into older snow layering.

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January 12 journal

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