24-25

Snowpit from yesterday attached.   West aspect 9700'.  HS70, ECTP15 @ 23.

Some collapsing in the valley bottom, and also near the ridgeline- on both easterly and westerly aspects.  

Minimal wind effect.  Surface hoar to 10,000'.

We got propagating test score in a 60 cm deep snowpit at the edge of Sunlight Basin (ECTP18 @ 22 cm) and at the Wilderness Boundary in a 49 cm deep pit (ECTP14 @14 cm). Photo: GNFAC

We rode into the Taylor Fork to the weather station and then over to the wilderness boundary. The trail in and out was in decent shape. The riding in the Taylor Fork was very thin with plenty of barely hidden obstacles. We moved slowly through the terrain and managed to avoid the landmines. 

It was 12 degrees when we left the car, temps were warmer up as we climbed but, even under sunny skies, the snow surface never got wet. Dry snow conditions were mostly stable, with no wet snow instability. I would worry about hitting a buried log or rock more than triggering an avalanche. However, we did get a couple of propagating tests in a 60 cm deep snowpit at the edge of Sunlight Basin (ECTP18 @ 22 cm) and at the Wilderness Boundary in a 49 cm deep pit (ECTP14 @14 cm). 

The snowpack is getting worked by the period of high pressure... surface hoar and near surface facets up top and faceting at the base. We will continue to monitor the state of the snowpack as we move toward the next snowfall assessing the structure that will eventually get loaded.