January 16

Grizzly gulch, Silver and Days Fork to Spruces

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

7500-10300', angles over 35°, all aspects.

Snow conditions

An inch or so of very dense new snow saturated by rain in the afternoon to ? elevation.

Much of the new had already formed a thin rime crust cap.

Off aspects had a mf crust under the new, variable in thickness and support.

Tree bombs were initiating rollers at mid and lower elevations.

Ski penetration, up high was an inch, foot penetration, a foot or so.

Weather

Overcast to foggy skies, wind from the west, gusting to 20+mph, mild temperatures.

Rained on at 8500' in the afternoon.

Snow pit

Several hand and shovel pits indicated good bonding with variable shears. No hoars.

Evaluation

Rain on snow would likely promote instability in the short term.

Colder temperatures and drainage should promote good stability for the long term.

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