Rough conditions on solar aspects, Rifle Peak to Second Creek

We toured SE-S-SW aspect terrain above and below treeline this morning in the area between Rifle Peak and Second Creek (7,600' to 9,600'). Thin snow cover exists across this area, ranging from patches of bare ground below 8,000' to around 3 feet HS on sunny slopes higher up.

Rough snow surface conditions dominated most areas with developing penitentes on open slopes near and above treeline. Of interest these very early in the melt season penitentes are low angle rather than closer to vertical since they always point towards the sun. Our sun angles are still not the height of late spring or summer that creates the more traditional, closer to vertical penitentes.

Very isolated areas of a smooth snow surface existed in open but still wind protected locations below treeline. Descending SE-S-SW aspect slopes around noon, we encountered up to 2 inches of surface wet snow over a supportable base. No signs of instability were observed during our morning tour.

Snow surface conditions and air temperatures seemed more like very late season while the sun angle and snow surface melt rates were a reminder that it is in fact only early February.