The snowfall we received on 1/9 was a nice respite from the dry and dusty conditions that has dominated the recent weather across the west. Post storm winds increased Wednesday (1/10) forming stubborn Wind Slabs throughout the eastern Sierra, resulting in a small skier triggered release reported on the 11th near Crystal Lake and numerous naturals along the Crest and Virginia Lakes. Thursday, light snow showers moved into the region briefly along with moderate to strong Southwest winds leaving a dusting of snow in middle and upper elevations and a thin wind crust in its wake. Since then, unseasonably warm temperatures have helped settle the recent storm snow. The recent snowfall adds to the complexity of the snowpack, especially on cooler northerly slopes. The deeper early season snowpack consists of alternating layers of decompossing melt/freeze crusts and faceted sugar snow, which are poorly bonded and can be found below the new snow in the snowpack. In areas where the snowpack is exceptionally thin, large facet crystals can be found near ground. The persistent slab problem will likely continue for a while. With that in mind, it is important to assess the snow stability of the terrain before committing to ride. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and identify areas of concern.
