Skook Face

We traveled to the southern Whitefish Range to observe how the snowpack handles spring-like temperatures.

• This morning, we observed fields of rollerballs on southerly mid- and upper-elevation slopes, which were formed by the initial warming on March 14. We also noticed two small (D1.5) wet loose slides in the Skook Chutes.
• Areas affected by the warming had a knife-hard crust up to 5 cm thick on steep mid-elevation southerly slopes, which broke down late morning. This crust thinned and became weaker at upper elevations. 
• During today's intense heat, numerous rollerballs and one small (D1.5) wet loose slide occurred on southerly slopes. 
• The snow on northerly slopes remained dry as of our exit at 1500.

Warming temperatures initiated rollerballs and small, wet loose slides during our tour.

North aspect snowpit - HS=225 cm, early February crust down 155 cm and 10 cm thick.

South aspect snowpit - HS=140 cm, early February crust down 50 cm and 10 cm thick.