Corn, Wet Snow, Crusts, and Cold Snow on Red Lake Peak

A wide variety snow conditions existed on Red Lake Peak today. Some patches of soft cold snow remained on some sheltered N aspects above 8000 ft. On the more exposed N-NE aspects scoured icy crusts existed at the upper elevations and thin breakable crusts existed on slopes in between sheltered N aspects and exposed ones. These thin breakable crusts also existed on shaded slopes below 8000 ft. Observations and snowpit data on N-NE aspects did not reveal any signs of instability. Test results included ECTN 25 on top of the 1/29 rain crust, PST 100/100 below the rain crust, PST 96/100 END on top of the rain crust, and CTX.

On the more sun exposed slopes 3 to 6 cm of soft corn snow existed on top of a supportable melt freeze crust on SE aspects up to 9600 ft. by 11:45 am. On the more E aspects, the snow had not quite transitioned to corn, and it remained wet and sticky. Small skier triggered pinwheels did occur on E aspects between 8400 and 8800 ft. around noon. Another small natural point release appeared to occur around this time on a similar E aspect.

Photo 1: Small natural loose wet point release that appeared to have occurred today (or possibly yesterday) on an E aspect at 8600 ft. 

Photo 2: 3-6 cm of soft corn snow on a SE aspect at 9300 ft. at 11:30 am.

Photo 3: Exposed icy rain crusts on a scoured NE aspect at 9400 ft.