From rain to plowder to powder...but no buried surface hoar

Traveled into the northern Swan Range to evaluate storm totals, rain/ snow line, and look for buried surface hoar.

• Rain at the truck turned to snow at approx. 3800'
• Found 8-20 cm of new snow from overnight and today
  • S1 snowfall observed above 5000' throughout the day
  • Snow density decreased with elevation
• Good bonding of new snow with the old snow surface
  • Old snow surface consisted primarily of a stout sun crust on sunny aspects and consolidated powder on shady aspects
• No buried surface hoar observed in snow pits
  • Either from earlier this week or earlier in March (3/3 or 3/7)
• Light to moderate winds with minimal snow transport
• No obvious signs of instability such as cracking, collapses, or recent avalanche activity
• Rollerballs and pinwheels observed below 5000' along steep road cuts on the snowmobile ride out