Variable snow conditions on Elk Mt

Traveled to the eastern end of our advisory area to assess wind slab formation, Persistent slab concerns, and snow surface warming.

• Recent winds have transported substantial amounts of snow leaving a scoured sastrugi surface on windward aspects and thick slabs on leeward and cross-loaded terrain. Slabs were plastered onto the surface and were unreactive to our skis.
• Instabilities were confined to 2 collapses in areas containing a thin snowpack (~30") with a thick layer of facets (12"+) at the ground. These were both on cross-loaded slopes above 6000'.
• A rain event on Friday left a breakable rain crust on the surface to 5700'. This rain produced rollerball activity on steep low elevation slopes.
• Today's sunshine and warm temperature produced rollerball activity on steep sunny aspects at low elevations. The warming softened the snow surface on sunny aspect up to 6000'.