Quick report
-Focus was investigating how the warming trend was affecting stability on N aspects in terrain East of WMR. -Found a more cohesive slab on top of the crust/persistent weak layer sandwich. -Surprised to find no failure or propagation in two Extended Column tests, given the persistent weak layer problem. -Observed multiple parties ski 35-38* degree wind sheltered slopes with a rollover without incident. -Stayed well away from steep solar-exposed slopes, but found excellent skiing on low-angle South aspects that were just beginning to crust over as clouds thickened in the late afternoon. Only sign of instability definitely observed was rollerballs from tree bombs on steep sun-exposed terrain. The light was flat when I got a look at Skook Chutes from across the canyon, so I am not positive, but it looked like a point release had triggered a small slab. Again, not positive, but that is what it looked like.
Weather
- Air Temp
- warming, but still below freezing at noon
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- trace
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
High clouds in the morning with plenty of solar input. Some clearing in the afternoon. Still below freezing on North aspects near 6000' at noon. Fog near ridgetops as warm air from the South met the cooler air on the North aspects. Light Southerly wind. Above freezing at 2:00pm on mid elevation S aspect.
Snowpack
-I found the facets/Feb. 3 crust/facets/Feb. 8 crust/facets layer cake under the 25-40cm of consolidating recent snow at every elevation and aspect I travelled on. -Surface snow was moist on low angle South aspects by 11:00am. -North aspects were developing an upside-down situation in the snow that fell since Feb. 3., with less consolidated snow under the more dense top 10-20 cm. - On a 35* North aspect at 6400': The snow above the Feb. 8 crust/facet combo was more consolidated than two days ago. HS 200cm. ECTPX x 2.