Observations from Luther Pass

A cold morning quickly warmed once we climbed into the sun on Luther Pass. Evidence of large tree bombs (cohesive snow falling off trees) previously falling in this area was widespread. The snow had experienced signficant settlement since I visited similar terrain on Tuesday. While the surface was still soft powder, the base was not far below it. Travelling on a ridge we saw a large older cornice but few recent signs of wind slab. Transitioning in the sun around noon was warm and there was noticeable melting of the snow in the immediate area. 

Photo 1: Transitional conditions in sun exposed areas. The presence of icicles and snow on the sunny side of this tree were both likely gone an hour after I took this photo. 

Photo 2: This open clearing surrounded by trees at 8300 feet did not have surface hoar present, but more open areas just above it did. 

Photo 3: An open north west facing ridge just above 8400 feet had widespread surface hoar. The SH was growing on both the sunny and shady sides of this ridge. 

Photo 4: The largest surface hoar I found was on the north side of a northwest ridge at 8800 feet. It grew just into the edge of the trees but was not noticeable once into tighter trees.