Misty day on Yuba Pass

Misty day today on Yuba Pass with low level cloud cover. Mist was light, just enough to wet the top 1 cm of the snow surface but our outerwear stayed dry. Occasionally we would get a short lived snow shower but mist prevailed. The snow surface was barely wet enough for roller balls and pin wheels on steeper slopes at 7,400' but they broke apart quickly and did not reform. A breakable crust will likely form on the snow surface tonight.

Wind slabs just above treeline along the ridgetop were 6+ inches thick, dense (4F+ hard), and difficult to trigger. Only after undercutting a wind loaded test slope were we able to get any cracking. Otherwise these wind slabs were unreactive.

Snowpit data revealed that the Dec 11 PWL is continuing to round but remains problematic. Propagation remains possible along the top of this weak layer per the PST. The forecast additional snow load expected on Monday Jan 4 will likely make this layer more reactive and unstable.