Observation from Becker Ridge

Warm day on Becker Ridge in the Echo Lakes area. Small surface hoar was growing many in open areas, but not in complete sun exposed spots. I dug in open areas below treeline looking for buried surface hoar. While I found plenty of graupel, I couldn't identify surface hoar in my pits in this location. Sunny slopes were warming and these were the slopes where I found the most slab development. On shady slopes below treeline surface snow was still still uncohesive and lacking slab characteristics. 

Photo 1: Mix of blue sky and clouds.

Photo 2: The only signs of instability I encountered today was on this south facing steep roll. 

Photo 3: Lots of graupel near the faint crust below the recent storm snow. 

Photo 4: ECTN 16 down 40 cms.

Photo 5: My disappointing attempt to create a thin wall of backlit snow to look at the melt freeze crust and weak layer.