Quick report
Zone: Rattlesnake (behind Snowbowl)
Weather: The sky had thin, scattered clouds drifting by, but overall, the day was dominated by warm, spring-like weather with blue skies and sunshine. Winds were very light to calm while traveling from the Beacon Park up the exposed ridgeline to Point 6. After soaking in the excellent views, I descended towards the ESE ridgeline and noted that the north aspects, such as Too Steep to Tele, were nicely shaded, while the south aspects, down to Jenny Bowl, were in full sun.
Snowpack: I descended from Point 6 and traveled along the ESE ridgeline, observing both north and south aspects. Numerous point releases were visible along large rock bands on Burgundy Ridge. The same was true when looking down into Jenny Bowl, where small point releases were visible along large rock outcroppings. Despite the air temperature being well above freezing, the snowpack did not appear as wet as expected for mid-afternoon.
I continued along the ridgeline before stopping on a slightly forested south aspect, where I conducted one snow pit test (ECT).
Snow Pit
- Elevation: 7,202 ft
- Aspect: South
- Snow Depth: 160 cm
- Time: 03:24 PM
- Air Temp: 46°F
- Slope Angle: 23 degrees
- Results: No propagation observed.
- Notes: The top 60 cm was cohesive, with a distinguishable sun crust and a layer of preserved facets below it. The snow in this location behaved better than what Cam found further down into Jenny Bowl along rocky rollovers last week. However, the structure and warm weather led us to select a low-angle route that avoided steep rollovers.
Conclusion: It was an excellent day to be in the mountains, and the views were spectacular in every direction. Remembering to apply skin wax and warm wax on the bases made for a smooth, enjoyable day.