Powder and wind puppies

We headed to the Middle Fork to view wind slab development and wet loose activity. We also decided to sample the recent storm snow.

• Moderate blowing snow occurred nearly non-stop at upper elevation ridgelines and intermittently at mid-elevations. We found thin wind slabs in many locations at mid-elevations on an open north slope. These were small and still in their growing stage - my ski partner referred to them as wind puppies.
• Extended periods of sunshine and warming temperatures initiated rollerballs in the recent snow at low and mid-elevations on southerlies and low-elevations on northerlies. 
• The snow surface remained cool above 5000 feet on the northerly mid-elevation slope we toured. There were 6 inch thick drifts of snow at 4500 feet which increased to a foot above 5500 feet.
• The snow quality was generally superb on northerly slopes above 5000 feet. Below there became slightly heavy.