Observations from Lincoln Ridge

Yuba Pass provided good access to a variety of aspects including lower elevation sun-exposed southerly aspects. We went up to Lincoln Ridge via the north-facing slopes and found 2-3 inches of soft snow lingering on top of a rain crust n the most shaded areas. On slopes where the aspect turned slightly away from N or the slope got any sun a thin breakable melt-freeze crust existed. It looked like snowmobiles were able to break through both the surface crust and the rain crust a few inches below the surface in many areas. We did see large cornices overhanging some previously wind-loaded NE facing slopes.

Once we gained the ridge, we found a mix of exposed rain crusts, wind-scoured surfaces, and other firm, uneven, wind-sculpted snow surfaces. We moved off the ridge to SW looking for corn snow conditions. At first, we thought we had arrived too early (11 am) since the snow remained firm and frozen off the ridge. Fortunately, after we descended about 20 feet below the ridge, we found about an inch of soft wet snow sitting on a supportable melt-freeze layer. These corn conditions stayed consistent to the bottom of the slope. We did not see any signs of deep wet snow on these low elevation (below 7800 ft) or any signs of loose wet instabilities.

We returned over the ridge to the N aspects and found the same variable conditions that we had seen on our way up.