Observations: Arctic Valley Backcountry

Obs from Backcountry Babes 20150215 short tour up to saddle between Gordon Lyon and Rendezvous

• Skies went from broken 1300 to overcast 1500

• Temp at saddle -1.0C, moderate to strong wind blowing over saddle down toward lodge with light transport of new 1/2cm HN (height of new snow)

• Surface was wind affected with small pockets of bonded hard windslab to 20cm

• HS (height of snow) ranged from 0-50cm

• No new avalanches observed – ski patrol reported a few ski cut windslabs <D1 Monday or so

40cm snowpack in the Tequila Bowl area of Gordon Lyon:

Gusty southeast winds transporting snow at the saddle between Gordon Lyon and Rendezvous:

View up towards Gordon Lyon southerly aspect from the saddle: