Ten centimeters of new snow fell over the last 24 hours around Wolf Creek Pass. Below treeline the snow surface was moist on solar aspects. Early in the day near treeline, I saw very few signs of instability. Only one loose dry avalanche on a north-east facing slope. However, near and above treeline winds from the north were moderate gusting strong all afternoon. Wind drifted snow was loading east to south to west-facing slopes. As I travelled back to the car I experienced some minor cracking on west and south facing aspects in 20-30 centimeters of wind drifted snow.

Wolf Creek Pass near treeline

From the top of Wolf Creek Pass I traveled north towards the Lobo Electronic Site. Traveled along ridgelines above Gibbs Creek Drainage. The return route was generally the same.

Gibbs Creek drainage, northeast-facing slope, at ~11,000'

Below treeline 5-10 cms of new snow sits over a crust on solar aspects, and the crust is supportable. On non-solars or in sheltered areas below treeline the new snow sits over a snowpack that is made entirely of faceted snow. Near treeline there was consistently 10 cms of new snow. On a northwest-facing slope at 11,600' the height of snow was 120 cms. The top 20 cms of the snow consisted of several thin melt freeze crusts with 4-finger hardness facets between the crusts. This sits over about 10 cms of near surface facets and surface hoar. The bottom 65 cms of the snowpack is faceted, but it is generally right side up. I had ECTN-1 11 cms down. On east, south, and west facing slopes near treeline there was a supportable crust covered by 10-20 cms of 4-finger hardness, wind drifted snow.

Clear, sunny skies for the entire day with moderate to strong winds from the north all afternoon.