Observations from Mt. Lola.

Conditions on N-NE-E aspects traveled this morning on Mt. Lola matched well with forecast expectations. Areas of surface wet snow were noted on E aspects while ascending up to the summit ridge at 8,800' at 9:15 am. A hand pit dug on an E aspect at 8,400' revealed the wet snow over cold drier snow over rain crust structure that has been observed around the forecast area on E-SE-S-SW aspects in recent days. A number of snowmobile slope cuts on 30 to 35 degree slopes did not produce any roller balls or other signs of wet snow instability during the morning hours.

A testpit dug on a well shaded N aspect road cut at 7,160' (noted lat/long) revealed a crust/facet sandwich just below the remnant storm snow which remained cold, F+ to 4F hard and unaffected by melt-freeze at the pit location. Below about 20 cm of remnant storm snow was a 3 cm thick 1F hard rain crust. Below that was 2 to 3 cm of 4F hard faceted snow. Below that was the thicker P hard Jan 29 rain crust. Snowpit tests on this facet layer between the crusts scored ECTN-28, CTN, and PST 35/100 SF (video).

Minor amounts of blowing snow were at observed at ridgetop level as moderate to strong E winds continued to erode cornices. All areas of observable wind slab deposition on W aspects were very small.

Photo: Hand pit on E aspect at 8,400', pointing to about 4 cm of surface wet snow on top of colder moist to dry snow. Jan 29 rain crust at the bottom of the hand pit.