Silver Peak Observations

A patchy snowpack exists throughout this area below 7000-7400' on all aspects with a lot of snow loss over the last 2 weeks since I have last been here.  These patchy snow conditions make for a lot of walking with skis on/off through the long dirt areas.  Once above 7400', a continuous snowpack exists with a solid overnight refreeze of the snow surface.  This melt freeze crust was on all aspects and elevations and any snow that fell in this area from the Monday night storm must have already assimilated into the snowpack.  A couple inches of soft wet snow on top of a strong melt freeze crust existed on E aspects by 10:30-11am.  Surface texture ranged from good to fair with overall good snow and travel conditions.  The sound of running water is everywhere with open creeks flowing below 7400'.  I dug a pit just above 7000' on an E aspect in one of the few areas where I could find continuous snow.  Snow depth was 18-20'' deep, with a P hard 8" melt freeze crust on top of 1F hard wet grains.  This snow was very supportable today, but not expected to be here very long.