Shed 7

• Toured up the “Shed 7” avalanche path to the confluence of Shed 7 East and West.
• Followed old debris flow up the Shed 7 East path to approximately 5800’ a.s.l.
• Continued uphill travel to the terrain just above the starting zone of Shed 7 East.
• Descended to the Shed 7 Weather Station and continued down to the rail grade.

Objectives were to:

• Observe any signs of recent avalanche activity.
• Assess snow surface conditions.
• Conduct any needed repairs on Shed 7 Weather Station.

• No recent avalanche activity observed.
• No noticeable cracking of the snowpack surface,
• No audible failures and/or collapses observed.

• Wind transport and loading has PREVIOUSLY occurred at ridgeline elevation(s). No active wind loading.
• The Shed 7 West cornice has grown quite large again over the past month (photo).
• Approximately 2” to 4” (5cm to 10cm) new snow (HNS) in the past ~24 hours at all elevations in JFS Canyon (Canyon). 
• New snow was interfaced with previously-formed and stout melt-freeze crust.
• Melt-freeze crust softened up by late afternoon at elevations below
• A surface sun crust was beginning to form during the afternoon hours at elevations above ~6000’
• Below ~6000 feet, surface snow (new snow) had become moist and transitioned to wet below ~5400’. Melt-freeze crust also softened substantially at elevations below ~5400’    

• Partly cloudy skies the entire field day with snow squalls in the area.
•  No new snow accumulation throughout the day.
• Air temperatures were in the mid-20s (0F) at lower elevations (Below ~5400’) during morning hours and upper 20s (0F) at upper elevations (Above ~6000’) during early afternoon. By late afternoon, air temperatures were above freezing at Canyon floor elevations (~4400’).