Observation Date: 12/18/2020

Route/Location:
Walked from 4,500 to 6,100 across East-North aspects.

Weather:
Overcast with light winds and occasional snow pellets. Temps 25-30°F.

Wind:
Cornices on ridgetops indicating wind blown hard from the SE and gradually shifted to SW as the last snow storm wore off.

New Snow: 6-12″

Avalanche Activity:
Roughly 40 cm of snow at 5,000 ft, snowpit revealed 83 cm of snow at 6,000 ft on a NE slope, 27°. Storm slab was forming from 83-54 cm. Faceting snow layer, likely surface hoar, at 53 cm. This surface hoar varied in size and was scattered across aspects. Ranged from 5mm to 3cm in size and was present above 5,000 ft. CT 14 & 17, ECT 15, no propagation. Cracking, whoomfing underfoot from 5,100 to 5,600 ft. Localized collapsing when jumping on switchbacks on slopes >32°.

Other Comments:
1 cm of faceting snow at 40 cm, 2 cm of fauceting snow at 31 cm, 4 cm of faceting snow at 23 cm, and 3 cm of fauceting snow at ground level, Wasn’t as concerned about these layers, but CT blocks pryed off on the 40 cm layer of faucets, Q2. Skied low angle burned trees.

Observer: Jack Peabody