Silver Peak observations

Hiking into Silver Peak today, there was evidence in the snowpack of rain from the Nov 13 storm up to about 7,100'. Above this elevation, snowpack depths quickly increased to a fairly consistent 9 inches. Near and above treeline, previous wind scouring had removed snow from the upper portion of traditional avalanche start zones on N-NE-E aspects. Southerly aspects at all elevations had undergone melt with a lot of bare ground showing.

Snowpit data from two sites (N aspect, below treeline, ~7,650' and NE aspect, at treeline, ~8,100') showed recent new snow over older faceted snow with no unstable test results observed. The faceted snow near the ground was gaining moisture. This faceted snow did not appear particularly weak even though it was more well developed that what has been observed in other locations.