November 3
Catherines area from Brighton
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
8000-10500', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
1-2" new snow from the November 2nd teaser over dirt below about 9500'.
Above that elevation, there was 6-10" old snow on the shady side. The old snow was much weaker than what I found in upper Cardiff.
The wind was moving recent snow around, drifting and scouring.
I experienced a number of collapses in the flats around Catherine lake with cracking common in the new drifts.
Boot penetration to the ground, ski penetration variable , mostly supportable on the old crust.
Weather
Partly cloudy skies, mild temperatures. Winds from the south, gusting over 20 mph on the ridges and swirling in the drainage.
Snow pit
Evaluation
Snow was mostly stable because it's so shallow. Wind drifting was scattered but sensitive.
Collapsing indicates instability when loaded.
Current weather guess suggests 12-18" by Monday so...I'd expect avalanching with some running full depth if, the guess is accurate.
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