Strong Winds and Blowing Snow on Ophir Peak

We toured around Ophir Peak today to look for blowing snow and new wind slab development.  Strong SW winds were moving light to moderate amounts of snow in near and above treeline areas.  Snow surface conditions varied from firm wind scoured surfaces, hard slabs, and some soft existing snow.  Overall, not a substantial amount of additional soft snow exists for further continued blowing snow from the SW winds in this area.  Previous and newly forming wind slabs showed little reactivity with localized cracking only along the summit ridgeline.

Surface hoar was found blown over in lower meadows and large open areas below treeline.  The surface hoar was not observed in higher elevations areas.

The upper snowpack, in below treeline areas, consists of just over a foot of mostly near surface facets and wind blown snow on top of the Dec. 12 rain crust.  This rain crust continues to slowly decompose and fall apart.  Snowpack tests targeting around the rain crust continue to show no signs of major weakness with the CT, ECT, and PST.  Recent strong winds have deteriorated snow surface conditions in many near and above treeline areas.