Forestdale Rd.

We went out Forestdale Road to 9,300' feet in search of well cooked corn and soft riding conditions. We were mainly on northwest through southeast aspects. The snow was soft and saturated with surface melt, yet supportable for riding.  We observed two small wet loose debris fields in the distance; they appeared like natural point releases, unknown date. There were glide cracks near the ridges where the snowpack on steeper terrain was gliding downhill and pulling away. The snowpack was shallow, ranging from 0 CM to 120 CM, with a 24 cm boot pen. The springtime riding was fun and supportable. It was the type of snow that would allow the machines to climb anywhere. We did not observe any surface instability on test slopes.

It was 64° with a light southwest wind. There appeared to be a good refreeze the night before.  All snow surfaces showed different degrees of melting. The snow surface contained a melt freeze crust that was anywhere from 3cm-25cm thick. The knife hard surface crust was not completely melted through, and the snow remained surprisingly supportable. By 4 PM there was significant melting on all aspects. We snowboarded an east aspect with good corn, but in lower terrain the snow was sticky. The snowmobiling was more fun in these snow conditions.  The snow was soft enough in the afternoon that hitting rocks or shallow obstacles under the snow became more likely.  We were expecting the snow to become too soft and challenging to ride, but it never hit that point. Your boots became wet while walking around.  My biggest concern for a harzard was punching into a hollow creek or finding a glide crack near a cliff or rock. 

The timing window for good snow depends on the aspect. I’m sure east aspects in the sun started melting at sunrise while northerly slopes remained firm until the afternoon.  Between 2 PM and 4 PM, all aspects became mashed potatoes.