Stable in Shed 7

• Toured up the Shed 6/7 ridge and conducted snow profiles in the starting zones of Shed 7 East and West.

• Snow conditions overall in this terrain feature consisted of facets and crusts.  

• Snow depths averaged around 30” or less at starting zone elevations ~6300’.

• Canyon floor snow depths averaged 12” comprised of a stout melt freeze crust as a base layer.

Objectives were to:

• Observe recent avalanche activity in and around the Shed 7 area.

• Assess snow surface conditions and collect some other baseline snowpack data.

• Conduct snow profile(s) in the upper starting zones of Shed 7 East and West.

• No slab avalanche activity observed.
• Dated cornice fall observed on NE exposure in on the Shed 7 West ridgeline. 

No shooting cracks, audible failures, and/or collapses observed.

• ~4500’ and below: Small surface hoar and up to 2” of near surface facets on supportable crust
• ~4500’ to 5800’: 2mm surface hoar on shaded aspects/ terrain features with ~2” of near-surface facets.
• ~5800’ to 6300’+: 2-4mm surface hoar on snowpack surface without direct solar exposure. Surface hoar was present on non-shaded aspects but without intense solar exposure (~SE aspects). Also, on shaded and non-direct solar aspects, up to 3” of near-surface facets on established crust.                                                                                    
• No windloading throughout the day.
• Snow profiles conducted at ~6300’ on southeast aspects and at starting zone elevations in both Shed 7 East and West. Snowpit profile details & associated stability test results, see attached.

• Clear for the entire field day.
• Excellent visibility at all elevations.
• No precipitation throughout the day with calm conditions at all elevations.
• Inverted atmospheric conditions…
• Air temperatures were in the teens at lower elevations during the morning hours and mid- 30s (0F) at upper elevations during the afternoon hours.
• Air temperatures remained below freezing during the entire day at lower elevations (Below ~5000’).