Date of Observation: 01/05/2017
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North
Elevation: Below treeline
Avalanches: Was hoping to get views of some avalanche paths but it was snowing too dang hard to see anything. Saw one natural D1.5 storm slab on a small feature.
Weather: S2 to S5 rates. Light to moderate down-valley winds; trees visibly shaking as we gained a gladed ridgeline. Temps decreased through the day.
Snowpack: In a wind sheltered, partially gladed slope below treeline: 60 cm of fist hard, storm snow over Jan 1st near surface facet layer. Easy and moderate broken fractures in mid-storm and storm interface layers. We traveled exclusively in dense, moderate angle trees and saw no signs of instabilities other than shallow cracking. Â Ski pen is knee deep. Boot pen is belly button deep. Tree well hazards were a serious concern in this non-avalanche terrain.