Quick report
There are now highly variable conditions at Powderhouse due to both the NE wind events and skier use during the past week. Surface facets still exist at all elevations on north slopes - even at the top - but they intermingle with ridges and crusts from skier tracks hardened to concrete-like consistency by the winds. The skin tracks are hazardously slippery, especially those that exceed about 15 degrees (which most do in this area) . Off the main skin tracks, any skinning was also challenging due to the thin layer of facets on top of a hard crust. I slipped a lot today - both on and off the main tracks. Ski crampons are a good idea on the main tracks. The descent was variable with harder snow down to 8400 feet. Then the snow softened somewhat. Throughout the descent, any untracked areas were still good skiing, but these are getting harder to find.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 40s
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Beautiful day with warm temps but a slight breeze made it feel cooler.
Snowpack
Snowpack was fairly consistent up the N/NW slope I ascended. There are several crusts high in the snowpack with a pretty thin layer of surface facets. At 7900 ft, HS 73cm with crusts at 4, 12, 30cm down. At 8400 ft, HS 70 cm with crusts at 4, 34, 42cm down. At 8900 ft, HS 85 cm with crusts at 8, 18 cm down. At 9300 ft on the N aspect, HS 80 cm with crusts at 15, 25 cm down. At 9367 ft on the SW aspect, HS 80 cm with crusts at 10,25,35 cm down.