Steamboat & Flat Tops

Mostly overcast skies with moderate westerly winds. Temperatures near freezing. No new snow.

The recent winds caused a significant blowdown at lower elevations near the Soda Creek Drainage. Combined with a breakable surface crust and low-tide conditions, skinning was difficult. As we ascended the blowdown became less pronounced and the surface crust became unbreakable. At around 9,700 feet on west and northwest aspects, the surfaces of exposed terrain were so firm that skinning up a slope steeper than five degrees was challenging. Staying in sheltered terrain where minimal amounts of soft snow still existed was the only semi-efficient way to ascend. Nearing the summit of Soda Mountain on west through north through northeast aspects, the height of snow varied from 30cm around rockier northwest facing wind scoured slopes, to 115 cm on more sheltered north facing slopes. At the summit of Soda Mountain, the height of snow was around 70-90cm. In the shallower areas, there was no slab, just the crusts over facets. In the deeper areas, a 60cm+ slab rested above weak basal facets. Extended column tests did not show propagation within normal testing range at the interface of the basal facets and slab, but in one test we saw propagation here with two extra blows from the shoulder. If we were to see an avalanche in this terrain, it would be unlikely to initially occur on this layer, but could step down to this layer on shadier aspects of the compass.