Pumphouse Basin and No Name Bench on Berthoud Pass--N to E to SE aspects NTL

I parked at the pullout for Pumphouse Basin and headed up the drainage and then worked south to No Name Bench. I descended a bit to the south of the bench before climbing back up and descending to the north and eventually back to the trailhead.

While there was plenty of blowing snow today, drifted snow did not show any signs of reactivity where I traveled. I did see a few small avalanches on the Stanley headwall--they may have been wind slabs, but where blown back in enough that I was unable to clearly tell. There was also a little bit of recent cornice fall off of No Name.

On a southeast-facing slope near treeline I found a melt-freeze crust under last weekend's new snow and on top of a layer of facets. This combo could prove problematic if it gets buried with a big new load.

On an east-facing slope near treeline I found a harder layer sitting over basal facets. Stability tests did not indicate that this deeper weak layer was reactive (ECTX). At the surface I found decomposing fragments under a thin wind skin--I'd expect that we'll see the decomposing fragments facet out over the next few days, leaving us with weak snow in the upper snowpack prior to our next storm.

In sheltered areas near treeline where the wind wasn't hammering the snow surface I found a mix of decomposing fragments and near-surface facets on the snow surface.

BKN skies clearing to SCT while I was in the field. Moderate SW winds with strong gusts. Temps in the upper teens. Plenty of blowing snow. Hst from the Berthoud Pass highway study plot was 8.5"/0.75".