Sun, sun, and more sun means wet loose cycle

Toured on Snowshed Mountain and in upper Essex Creek to monitor ever-developing wet loose cycle and monitor snow quality on shady aspects after two consecutive warm days.

• Found supportable, dry, and cool snow on shady aspects (NW - NE)
• Solar aspects at mid/ lower elevations were moist and producing numerous rollerballs
• Southern aspects at mid/ lower elevations started producing wet loose debris by mid-afternoon (1 - 3 pm)
• High, thin cloud cover late-morning into mid-afternoon helped keep temperatures from warming rapidly and delayed wet loose cycle
• Seems that upper elevations still need a full day of sun and warm temps to start producing wet loose debris
• Evidence of natural wind slabs after our last storm cycle was less noticeable in this zone compared to where I traveled to the north yesterday (Tunnel Ridge)
• By late afternoon, sunny aspects that moved into the shade were quickly transitioning back to the re-freeze cycle