Snowpack obs from Needle Peak area

On the final day of our AIARE 1 avalanche course, we traveled out the high ridges of the Granite and Needle Peak zone, with the goal of finding the persistent weak layer and also some good skiing. One the highpoint of the Needle Ridge we found the suspect layer down 65cm, this layer of facets being obvious and easy to observe. An ECT test produced a sudden planar result [See video, (ECTP17Q1)], which was a bit more sensitive than the same location 1 week ago. 

We observed a few natural cornice collapses and many large cornices. We also observed evidence of the east wind, quite a bit of scouring was evident on most exposed N-NE-E aspects (photo #1)

Surface Hoar was widespread and easily observed on most sheltered slopes exposed to the night sky on terrain between 7500 and 9000'. These feathery crystals mostly ranged from 3-5mm, but were found up to 7mm in open meadows around 8000' (photo #2)

The East wind was present, although it was not transporting a significant amount of snow.