Observations from Incline Lake Pk

Touring N-NE-E-SE aspects in the greater Incline Lake Peak area today revealed rapid warming conditions with the top 1 cm of the snow surface wet on E and SE aspect terrain at 9,200' by 10:45 am. During the early afternoon hours, roller ball activity on these aspects remained very limited and small in size. A couple very small (size D1) natural loose wet avalanches were noted in E to SE aspect cliff areas.

Crowns from 3 recent natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches were noted in the greater area, all having occurred in the 9,000' to 9,600' elevation range on open E to ESE aspects well below the ridgetops. No signs of this past instability was present today.

Areas of several large cornice sections (about twice the size of a refrigerator) had been intentionally collapsed by another party along the N ridge of Incline Lake Peak. These cornice pieces entrained some surface snow but did not cause any wind slab failure on the test slopes below the cornice area.