Observation Date: 02/02/2020
Route/Location:
We skied up to Gash nob (~8,400 ft) and found stable, dense snow bonding well to the 2/1 crust on both East and West aspects.
Weather:
It was nice to feel some chilly air after our tropical introduction to February. Skies started overcast and cleared as the day progressed, with some scattered flurries midday.
Wind:
Calm. From the looks of the surface conditions near where we were, it looks like the storm blew in from the N-NW. Some fellow riders corroborated this ob yesterday finding a North facing chute into Sweathouse completely stripped bare of snow.
New Snow: 6-12″
Avalanche Activity:
Luckily the new snow came in dense enough to bond to the stout crust that came with the warm temperatures on Saturday. Pit results yielded ECT-Ns in the mid-teens on the new interface, without much energy. We dipped off the West side of the nob for a run and found a lot of snow (HS: 200cm) on what one would think would be trashed by the usually prevalent wind, but we found excellent powder riding 1-200 feet below the ridgeline.
Other Comments:
Observer: Ned Gall