Quick report
Reactive windslab at 2800 ft near Thompsom Pass at the School Bus area on a NW aspect. A small breakable crust and sticky snow made for below average skiing fun.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 35
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 75
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Storm snow may have built up in the drainage gully from this weekend’s storm and built a windslab. Winds were light at the time of observation and no snow was being blown around.
Snowpack
A snowpit was dug around 2800 ft in the School Bus backcountry ski area not far from Thompson Pass. A reactive, 10 inch windslab on the surface was observed on the surface of the snow. An extended column test was conducted and a crack propogated below the wind slab on the second slab from the elbow. No other instabilities were noted in the snowpack. Signs of moderate wind scouring and loading were observed in the surrounding area. The snowpit was dug in a wide drainage with a slope angle of about 25 degrees. There was no signs before digging a pit that a windslab existed. But the windslab likely occurred from snow accumulating in the drainage.