Deep, unsupportable wet snow and collapsed cornices on Rose Knob Pk.

Evidence existed of a decent snow surface refreeze in the Third Creek/Rose Knob area last night. By 10 am, deep, marginally supportable wet snow existed on SE-S aspects below 7,800'. By noon, deep unsupportable wet snow was observed on E-SE-S aspects below 8,200'. Above 8,200', snow surface conditions were increasingly supportable. Near the summit around 9,600', slower melt allowed for a skier supportable near surface snowpack structure of surface wet snow over 10 cm thick melt-freeze crust at mid day. In the areas of unsupportable wet snow, knee deep boot penetration was noted.

Numerous naturally collapsed cornices likely to have occurred over the past 24 to 72 hours were noted on the surrounding ridges. In some areas, fractures behind the cornices without a cornice section release were noted.

Photo 1: Knee deep wet snow boot penetration on 8,200' on SE aspect at mid day.

Photo 2: Supportable wet snow near surface structure, S aspect at 9,600'. Glove marks surface wet snow, grip on pole shaft (not the handle) aligns with thickness of remaining melt-freeze crust.

Photos 3&4: Natural cornice collapses on surrounding ridges.

Photo 5: Fractures behind non-collapsed cornice sections.