Word of the day…”Variable”

johngrahamkelly , Saturday 21st December, 2024 7:15PM

Kootenay Pass snowpack observations and ski conditions. A dense, crusty, faceted, surface hoar layered snowpack. Resistant planar on 21st tap (60cm down). Fracture occurred on 8cm facets below a 1cm rigid rain crust. Crust layer remained bonded to the 4cm of surface hoar and storm snow above after pulling out the slab with minimal resistance. Snow Profile 2:00pm HS 143cm 2097m elevation 28 degrees W aspect ECTP21 down 60cm Density (110cm down) 50cm 4F 4cm SH 1cm IFrc 8cm FC 47cm 1F Ski conditions ranged greatly from a thin zipper crust from trailhead to 1960m in the am. Very skiable on the exit at 2:30pm. South aspects above 2000m skiing a mixed bag of scoured, crusty, dense powder pockets in sheltered areas. Best skiing was short but sweet(ish) on W/NW aspects between 2000m-1800m in sheltered, dense trees.