NORTH EAST VIC:
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
UPDATED: 22ND / AUGUST /2018
REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 25TH / AUGUST/ 2018
OBSERVATION SUMMARY
TREND: IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING
CURRENT OBSERVATION:
There is a lot of hidden spooky stuff out there at the moment. I fell in a creek hole while guiding when a mini cornice that looked on approach from below like another buried bush collapsed one whole metre back from its edge taking me with it. It was three meters deep, luckily with skis on I only fell half of it. Ended up digging a trench out. Partially obscured freaky creek holes (think crevasses), with the tops all transported and corniced in three directions is definitely the biggest hazard in the backcountry moving into week one of a 2m snowpack (3m+ at the creek), packing a rope short (10m) rope is probably a good idea.
Still not 100% from our observations and profiles, various field notes from about the range that the steep deep south aspect is completely mended. It just isn't bonding to the hard melt freeze crust providing sudden planar results in most places even now, 62 hrs after the storm. Not such a problem up high where it all got blasted off, more in the shady, wind protected verges of the open terrain.
OUTLOOK: ... Onwards and upwards from here. The warm afternoon breeze carries the sweet smell of wattle blossom on it, the scent of a corn harvest just around the corner. This snow will take a while to turn around with the onset of melt freeze cycle now. Looks like the weekend is shaping up for some good extended touring once the crust becomes supportive. With perhaps a few dustings to freshen it up.
