Observations from Round Top

Pics: Some unconsolidated snow still remains on slopes sheltered from previous winds and not in direct sun. Most slopes in the area are either wind scoured or have wind slab of various depth, hardness, and distribution from complex past wind events.

Video: Two slopes in the area were observed to have a slope-wide distribution of wind slab, but neither had thick enough slab to be of concern. Although wind slab was easy to shear off in mitt pits, skier triggering was not observed except when cutting above skin track. On other slopes where wind slab was thicker and stronger, it was too limited in distribution to be of concern.

South aspects of Round Top did not show evidence of loose wet instabilities before noon, from 10,000ft to 7,600ft. Similarly, E aspects of Elephant's Back did not show evidence of loose wet instabilities up to our early afternoon departure. The January rain crust remains supportable just beneath the unconsolidated surface on solar aspects observed today.