January 10
West Desolation, Powder park, Little Water, Spruces.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-9800', angles over 40°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
2+ inches of light density capped by a thin denser crust over a mostly crusted base.
The base crust varied from from stout and slippery to spongy dependent on elevation, aspect and wind exposure.
Bonding of new snow to old surface also varied, marginal to good, angle dependent.
Ski cutting cornice lines and slopes produced shallow wind drifted releases
which initiated sluffing.
From the left, old slide, track and sluff slide, Sunday tracks and ski cut sluff.
Large grained surface hoar was not observed in the area.
Weather
Foggy to partly cloudy skies, light wind and cool temperatures. A few snow flurries.
Evaluation
Sluffing of new snow on steeper slopes.
Shallow wind drifts could be an issue.
Wet activity with warming.
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