Quick report
A jaunt into Rock Creek proved incredibly difficult and time consuming. There is too much soft, slippery, sugary snow interlaced with crusts at the surface, and buried, to boot pack efficiently. There is not enough snow to skin through dense vegetation and rocky areas, efficiently. After a haul, I made it up to 10000 to observe how the winds were performing on the crest, and on the higher peaks in the area. I observed intense wind loading ATL, NTL, and into BTL terrain starting around noon. Wind transport continued, and I experienced it in areas with crusts, or even minimal snow available for travel. Winds were strong and consistent enough to move snow long distances. Flagging and blowing snow was observed on my drive home as well, in the Red Peak area, on Nevahbe, and in McGee Creek.
No signs of instability observed whilst traveling. Very difficult travel. A possible crown viewed in the distance near the crest. Visibility was in and out so it was hard to tell. If it is a crown, size is D3.Weather
- Air Temp
- 31
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
The morning was stormy, with a trace of precipitation and moderate SW winds, strong gusts. Visibility was minimal. The skies cleared where I was as the day went on. However, significant cloud cover was still visible on the crest. Winds increased as the day continued, and wind loading was observed at all elevations. Temperatures were steadily in the 30s throughout the day.
Snowpack
15 - 55 cm snow up to 10000'. Less snow at higher elevations on certain aspects, and more snow on others - wind dependent.
DH found up to 6 mm at base of snowpack in many areas below 10000, but not all.
ECTPN results on near surface faceting, and faceting between crusts.
An unofficial shovel shear test broke a slab cleanly on a well developed layer of facets sandwiched between 2 MF crusts, mid snowpack.
Percolation columns to ground in isolated areas.