Ophir Creek observations

Clear skies this morning with NE ridgetop winds well below forecast speeds. Evidence of previous drifting and redistribution of snow on the ground by NE winds was evident near treeline and along ridgetops, but none was occurring this morning.

Solar aspects along with moderate angle northerly aspects were undergoing surface melt today. A thin breakable crust had formed overnight from refreeze of yesterday's snow surface melt. By about 11:30 am this crust at 9,000' had melted leaving transitional state wet snow over dry snow, not separated by a melt-freeze crust.

Northerly aspects were holding unconsolidated recent storm snow unaffected by melt in well shaded areas only. One did not need to venture far into any areas of sun exposure including moderate slope angle N aspects to encounter snow surface melt.

No signs of instability were observed in this area during the morning hours.