Around 6 inches of snow fell in the Red Mountain Pass area by 4 pm. The new snow was dense and settled into a 4-inch slab. Moderate and strong wind redistributed the new snow near and above treeline. The new load fell on a fragile snowpack, but as of Tuesday, there was not enough new snow/water to tip the scales for widespread natural activity.

Red Mountain Pass.

Toured around Carbon knob and went the ridge between Red 3 and Puteny weather station.

A very small avalanche triggered in a steep rock band. Snow was harder to move than expected. The avalanche started in new snow but gouged into basel facets.

A shallow new snow slab sits on a fragile snowpack, specifically near and below the treeline. In the alpine, the new snow sits on hard slabs created by recent wind events. Strong wind was moving snow at upper elevations, stiffing the surface and drifting the new snow into piles up to 12 inches deep. Isolated cracking was observed in the new snow but stayed primarily around ski length. In a snowpit on an east aspect around 12,000 feet, the new/old interface was highlighted as an area of concern, and I got propagating results at three taps from the wrist. The set-up for avalanches was observed; there was just not enough of a new load as of late afternoon.

Light snow throughout the day with periods of heavy snowfall. Southwest winds were strong enough to move snow near and above treeline. Temperatures were in the low 20's.