Northern Mammoth Crest Conditions

Toured up to the far end of Mammoth Crest above McCloud Lake. Near surface facets on low elevation East facing slopes were already getting moist by 0900 and rollerballs could be kicked off on steep slopes. Sheltered and Northern aspects still holding dry snow at midday though the increase in temperature and cloud cloud cover on the way out made the snow feel slow and sticky.

HS at 9900' on a NW aspect in open terrain without tree cover was 90cm. A 10cm 1F windslab was found in this area, and in very isolated locations where the slab is thicker and supported only by facets very small pockets could be triggered, though was unreactive in formal tests. Kick turn tests and small test slopes only produced localized cracking under skis. The PWL was found here, 45cm of 3mm facets comprise the base and are capped by a stiff P hard slab. CTN and ECTX results on this layer. No other signs of instability noted in this area.