Quick report
- Red Flags
- Rapid Warming
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>I did not observe any outstanding red flags today. There was evidence of previous wet/loose action prior to the storm from daytime warming. Something to continue to keep an eye on as standard spring caution. Deep penetration into the snow, rollerballs, pinwheels and wet sticky snow are red flags. </p>
Under the 3-4" of new snow there is a solid and firm melt freeze crust. Moving through steep terrain now requires boot packing and many boot packs are in place from all the traffic the mountains have seen the past few days. Depending on daytime high temperatures, it does take some time for the snow surface to warm and become most enjoyable for turning. I rode Tukno approaching from Exxon's. I descended Tukno at 1100 and the surface was still firm underneath the new snow. Photos below from approach/descent of Tukno in addition to a look at W-S Facing terrain near the laurel highway, Tuk and South Mountain.
After, I went up into Lower Cirque which offered the highest quality turning on steep north facing terrain accessed by boot pack and on the descent down from Lower Cirque. East facing terrain in the Cirque is no longer connected top to bottom. I probed 155cm of snow at the top of the middle cirque.
A very cool look at the locals moving from E facing to N facing terrain as things warmed in the morning. I watched for quite a while. Very amazing and beautiful observing them move through the snow covered mountains.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Spring caution. Timing is everything this time of year working terrain E to W with the sun and being aware of above stated springtime red flags and loose/wet slides. Additionally, watch for loose dry sluffing on steep terrain early in the day with the new snow on the slick surface below. </p>
There was around 3-4" of new snow from the recent storm around the compass. Snow appeared to remain cold yesterday in upper elevations and at mid elevations on the northern half. In certain areas sheltered from the wind and on very steep northerlies up high there seemed to be 4-7" of settled snow. There was a stout melt freeze crust under the new snow that was difficult to penetrate, but not too firm for quality boot packing. I found the best quality snow on steep North facing terrain in Lower Cirque and in other areas where the underlying snow surface was smooth and absent of previous ski tracks. Overall pretty good skiing on Tukno and Lower Cirque. Conditions should remain good with the new snow for at least another day I would imagine.