Observation: Turnagain

Overcast and broken skies. Winds were moderate to strong from the East and blowing high and low on ridgelines as well as in the upper valleys. Snow devils prevalent off many ridgelines. Warm temperatures (mid 20'sF at 2,500' and 33F at sea level). Light snow was falling on the North side of the Pass, but the Souther side, including Sunburst had no precip during our tour.

Below 2,000': 4-5" of new moist snow over a 1-2" moist crust.

Above 2,000': Settling dense powder from the Valentine's Storm Cycle (Feb 13, 14 and 15). New snow from this cycle dropped 20" of heavy snow at Sunburst. Boot penetration was 8" deep while ski penetration was only 4" deep. Wind affected in many exposed areas, wind crusts and stubborn wind slabs up to a foot thick.

Above 2,000': Buried surface hoar (1cm) sits under the 20" of new storm snow. We had an ECTP 18 and 20 on a SW facing aspect at 2,850' on a 28 deg slope. We dug earlier at 2,400' in an area with known traffic prior to the storm, and we had ECTX here - we could clearly see that old tracks had disturbed the buried surface hoar.

Bottom Line: The new snow is not bonding well to the old snow. Don't be fooled by lack of red flags, or stable pit results, if you are in areas that see high traffic.

A crust 4-5" below the surface from the rain on Feb 14 is freezing below 2,000' and mostly supportable. There is buried surface hoar under the new snow in these lower locations as well, we did not dig in the lower elevations.