Quick report
- Aspect
- North
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2530 m
- Slope Angle
- 20°
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Facets near the ground at pit location (N @ 8300') were damp, but poor structure remains (especially at higher elevations where these facets may still be dry).</p>
The weather was beautiful today and the new snow conditions were just as good. We travelled up to around 9000' and found shallow snowpack and a basal PWL were the biggest hazards, although we saw no red flags (other than poor structure) and only hit a rock or two on our sled ride out to ski, but there were certainly numerous other sharks out there. Complicated snowpack with variable depths, numerous crust layers, basal facets (both damp and dry), stout rain crust, and a half of a pack of new snow in the last few days with our first real shot of cold temps. The snow below the Xmas Eve crust was noticeably more moist/wet than the snow above.
Snowpack
Estimated 17" of new snow at pit site (with 2'+ in some locations in upper elevations) from this past cycle on top of a stout supportable crust. Snow seems to be bonding well and right side up, although a graupel layer near the crust was noted as a potential weak layer in the new snow. Mostly powder and nice travel conditions on skis or sled other than the shallow rock gardens that are barely covered at mid elevations and the occasional soft wind skin capping the new snow.