Observation Date: 11/30/2019

Route/Location:
Camas Creek, southern Bitterroot Mtns, 7400 feet

Weather:
scattered clouds, cold–in the low teens, calm-light winds

Wind:
light west winds; no visible snow transport

New Snow: 3-6″

Avalanche Activity:
no

Other Comments:
Only about 15 inches total depth, with two melt-freeze crusts near the ground providing a solid base. Overlying this is a few inches of mid-November snow composed of small-grained facets, topped by 5-6″ of very light density new snow. The crusts and associated facets are in the bottom 6″ of the snowpack and broken up by many anchors. But the new snow is likely to quickly become faceted: surface hoar was already forming even just a few hours after snowfall stopped and skies cleared.
The frozen snow near the ground may have made for a few good turns on gentle, grassy terrain, but you’d have to haul your skis up here first! Below 6800′, there was only the 5″ of new snow. Photos show the poor coverage on all aspects.

Observer: Jeff Lonn