Conditions on Incline Lake Peak

Similar to other areas around the region, Incline Lake Peak held a wide variety of snow conditions. During the morning we found firm refrozen surfaces on the E-SE-S aspects at all elevations. In open areas this refreeze was solid and supportable. In some of the more tree-covered areas, the refreeze was less robust. While it was still ski supportable, it was easy to push a pole through it into softer snow. At the upper elevations, widespread cloud cover and stronger winds kept these aspects firm until at least 11:00 am. The lower more sheltered E-SE aspects did soften and 2-4 cm (1-2 inches) of wet corn snow had formed on a supportable base by 11:20 am. 

We also explored N-NE aspects to get more information about how those slopes will handle the new snow forecasted for this weekend. On these aspects, we found firm and scoured surfaces on exposed near and above treeline slopes and a mix of breakable crusts and softer weaker surface snow on sheltered near and below treeline slopes. On true N facing slopes without previous traffic, the areas of softer snow were larger and more widespread. We set up a Propagation Saw Test (PST) and built a ~10cm (4in) 1 finger slab on top of the softer surface snow. We let this artificial load sit for a little over an hour and performed the test. The results indicated that propagating fractures along the soft snow at the current snow surface may be difficult.