Quick report
I ventured out to Peagravel Ridge to scout travel conditions through the Heather Canyon runout and to see how much snow was available for transport at middle elevations on a West/East facing ridge. I experienced very challenging travel conditions through Heather Canyon and on lower Peagravel Ridge until I was able to reach the section of the Timberline Trail that intersects the ridge on the east side. There is not enough snow at lower elevations to cover downed logs, small bushes, or creeks.
My highpoint on Peagravel Ridge was 5800 feet. I observed 11.5 inches of low-density storm snow with no wind effect. My partner and I chose to stay below treeline due to the amount of snow that was available for transport. I was concerned that the new snow had obscured near surface obstacles but everything on the eastern aspect was well buried and ski quality was fantastic. We were able to produce small amounts of sluff from hard ski turns.
By 1:30pm we observed heavy wind transport onto eastern aspects at middle elevations. The mountain was obscured by the clouds so I could not observe wind transported at upper elevations.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 28
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Heavy snow throughout the day. In the moring the ridgeline winds were light from the west but they increased to heavy by early afternoon.
Snowpack
I dug a pit at 5800 feet on the eastern aspect of Peagravel Ridge. I found 12 inches of low density storm snow sitting on top of the 1/4 crust, which is above an old wind slab. I found that the 1/4 crust and the windslab below it have not bonded well and displayed characteristics of instability under moderate loading in a snowpit test. The fracture plane between the two layers did not extend throughout the entire block and only slid once I leveraged it with my hand. I also found a layer of facets below an old crust 19 inches below the surface. Total depth of snow was 73 inches.