Quick report
We set out for a snowmobile training day and boy did we get one! As many other parties in the zone noted, it was a slog on Saturday. A steady rain fell all day and this week's prior snowfall has morphed into feet of wet and unconsolidated mush. When we ventured off the groomed trail, we got our sleds stuck repeatedly as we wallowed deep into the snowpack. Visibility was limited and we only observed a few wet loose sluffs in extremely steep terrain above road cuts. Creeks were gushing and we saw waterfalls on the drive to the trailhead emanating from below the snowpack in locations that don't normally have waterfalls.
The good news is once temperatures cool, the lower elevation travel hazards should be reduced due to the recent accumulation. That said, it would take a lot to refreeze this entire snowpack and water will likely be working its way through for a while yet, even after the surface locks up.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Rain Elevation
- 4000-4500' at least
- Recent Snowfall
- 30-60 cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Rain. Lots of rain. It oscillated from light to moderate for most of the day, with only the occasional break. Moderate winds in exposed locations.
Snowpack
The snowpack at and below 4000' is saturated. Rain runnels on the surface and dense mush below. Boot penetration ranged from 6" to 3', depending on where you stepped and how unlucky you were. Once disturbed, the snow set up like concrete.
Despite the rain soaking, the lower elevation snow depth has increased substantially as a result of this storm cycle.