Surprise Pass

Field observation trip to Surprise Pass. Widespread surface hoar growing, especially at low elevations. Overall, the snowpack is quite shallow and weak, typically 100 cm deep and a ski pole easily pushes to the ground in sheltered areas. In alpine areas, 2-week-old wind effect has left a bulletproof layer in many areas that is now the Jan 30 layer, with about 10-15 cm of well-developed facets above. If we ever get snow again, the current surface layers will become a very spicy buried weak layer. The snowpack is weak but generally stable, except for isolated alpine slopes where a hard slab may be sitting on those facets. It was a beautiful day to be out, with mostly terrible skiing. The run itself is tracked out side-to-side and reminded us of a great run at a ski resort, until the lower third where some remnants of soft snow remain.