Near Surface Facets, ice crusts, scoured surfaces and corn in the Deep Creek Drainage

A wide variety of conditions existed in this area today. On the exposed near and above treeline terrain between Billy's Peak and Tinkers Knob wind scoured surfaces and wind packed surfaces and some exposed crusts resided on the N-NE-E aspects. On the sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects firm melt freeze conditions persisted in most places. The due south aspects with no shade did soften some and up to 2 inches of soft corn-like snow did exist in some places on these aspects by 2pm. Handpits, ski cuts on steep test slopes and other observations did not reveal any signs of instability on these near and above treeline slopes.

Below treeline where temperatures have been colder and the slopes were sheltered from the recent strong NE-E winds, skis penetrated 4-6 inches into soft unconsolidated snow. Due to the long period of colder temperatures the snow near the surface has faceted (gotten weaker). Ski cuts on steep N facing test slopes between 7600' and 6800' did cause some loose dry sluffs involving the top 2-4 inches of this cohesion-less surface snow. Below the surface the snowpack grew steadily stronger. Snowpit tests, handpits and the ski cuts did not show signs of weakness below the loose surface snow. Some areas of surface hoar had also formed in this drainage, but these were not widespread.

Photo 1: Skier triggered loose dry sluff on a 43 degree N facing test slope. GPS coordinates of the observation indicate the location of this sluff.

Photo 2: Ski penetration in the loose unconsolidated snow on below treeline N facing slopes.

Photo 3: Wind scoured surfaces on a NE facing slopes at 8500 ft in exposed terrain.

Photo 4: Exposed ice crusts on an exposed N facing slope near 8600 ft.

Photo 5: Soft corn snow on a sunny S facing slope at 8300 ft.

Photo 6: Frozen melt-freeze crust on a SE facing slope at 8200 ft. that did not receive as much sun today.