Quick report
Stellar day in the Aspendell area. Coverage is sufficient and supportable right from the car. The strong winds on 1/5 certainly had an impact on surface conditions, but we found right-side-up, settled powder on protected north-facing slopes up to 11000 feet. Above 11k, and on exposed rollovers below, we found varying levels of wind affect. We observed signs of previous avalanches, but no signs of instability on our tour beyond localized cracking around our skis.
Wind deposits were either brittle and breakable, or stiff and unreactive. Test slopes were unproductive beyond localized cracks.Weather
- Air Temp
- Below freezing
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Rain Elevation
- NA
- Recent Snowfall
- None
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Beautiful. Cool, calm, and clear.
Snowpack
There is generally good coverage for skiing and riding in the Aspendell area.
- Below 9500 ft: shallow snow is capped by 1/1 rain crust and isolated wind deposits which make for efficient skinning.
- 9500 to 10500 ft: 70 to 110 cm HS. 1/1 crust down 30 to 50 cm, and very little old snow near the ground.
- Above 10500 ft: 110 to 150 cm HS. 1/1 crust found up to 11k at varying depths. 15 to 30 cm of old, faceted snow near the ground.
I targeted the 1/1 rain crust in Extended Column Tests with unremarkable results (ECTX). Hard shears pulled a clean slab off on top of the crust. This layer is present up and down the forecast zone and will be worth keeping an eye on.