Elephant's Hump Observation

I toured around the Elephant's Hump area today looking at snow softening and the 2/14 facets. Leaving the car at about 8:30am shady snow was firm and occasionally slippery for skinning but I quickly found soft snow that produced deep boot penetration. Areas in the trees minutes from the parking area were wet and unsupportable. The difference between boot penetration and ski penetration was apparent when I found myself occasionally slipping while skinning on the icy snow surface but when I stepped off my skis my boot plunged through the weak crust.

I dug two pits in different locations (both generally north facing). At the first pit location which was in an open area (325°) and while the 2/14 facets were easy to identify they were moist from previous melting and clumped easily in my hand. I got ECTN 17 results at this location.  At a different location that was more shaded by trees and more north facing (11°) I got repeatable ECTP 27 results on the facets. These facets appeared to have experienced less previous melting and mostly resisted clumping in my hand. At both these locations the surface snow was mostly frozen and the melt process for the day had just started. 

Much of the south facing terrain in this location is melted out and not suitable for skiing. 

Photo 1: Snow surface crust was just supportable to a normal boot penetration.

Photo 2: This is the same foot print as the previous photo but with a slight hop which produced a boot penetration of over 30 cms

Photo 3: Pit looking at 2/14 facet layer. They were moist and easily clumped in this location.

Photo 4: Looking at 2/14 facet layer.

Photo 5: ECTN 17 

Photo 6: A different location (slightly higher, more shady due to trees, and more directly N facing) produced repeatable ECTP27 on 2/14 facets.

Photo 6: Looking SE, notable lack of continuous snow on this sunny slope and mixed cloud cover

Photo 7: Looking at ice layer and 2/14 facets

Photo 8: Looking across Red Lake at the south face of Red Lake Peak