Sunny and calm at Monument Pass

Calm afternoon at Monument Pass, with wet snow on the surface of sunny slopes, and dry new snow remaining on shady slopes well into the afternoon. Deepest new snow accumulation observed was 6-8" in small windloaded pockets. I found a few shady areas with facets under the new snow, but there wasn't enough new snow to be of concern today. The new snow will also be worth monitoring on shady slopes for development of new facets at the old/new interface.

Pic 1: New snow in the sun was wet and created roller balls when pushed intentionally, but no consequential wet loose avalanches were observed.

Pic 2: In a windloaded pocket with almost 8" of new snow, a shovel tilt was clean and planar on a density change. My saw is pointing at the old/new interface, where no old facets were seen at this location.

Pic 3 and 4: The ridgeline above Monument Pass, exposed to the recent NE winds. Similar surface textures can be seen on Freel if you zoom in to pic 4.

Pic 5: New surface hoar forming on a previously wind affected area.