Snowpack observations from Silver Peak

Mostly stable snow observed in the Silver Peak area today. Ski-cut several 37-40 degree, N-NE facing, wind-loaded test slopes both above and below treeline with no results. A variable crust does exist on all aspects up to 8000' in this area. On most N-NE aspects above 7000' this crust was breakable. On these northerly aspects a thin layer of weak sugary snow existed just below this thin (.5 in. at the thickest) breakable crust. Above 7700' this crust was very thin and hardly noticable under one's skis. On the sheltered N-NE aspects several inches of soft unconsolidated snow still remains just below the crust in areas below 8000' and on the surface in areas above 8000'. On the exposed non-treed slopes above 8000' a mix of wind-crusts, hard wind-slabs, and soft unconsolidated snow existed on the snow surface. On the more sun-exposed southerly aspects the melt-freeze crust softened and left 1-3 inches of slushy, wet , heavy snow on the surface by mid-day. Expect this wet snow to refreeze tonight. Below this top 1-3 inches of wet snow the snow was still cold, dry and soft.

Photo 1: Variable crust on the snow surface at 7200' on a NNE aspect.