Green Butte Ridge

The Christmas storm has delivered 18 inches of new snow, so far, to Bunny Flat. Total snow depth is now ~28 inches at Bunny Flat, and over 40 inches at 7,800 feet. Despite nearly 2.5 inches of snow water equivalent at the Old Ski Bowl since 2am, the snowpack was relatively quiet today, with only minor cracking observed on isolated wind-drifted features. Blowing snow was abundant, both near and below treeline. Several density changes exist within the new snow that are worth paying attention to as the storm continues tonight into tomorrow. The snowpack below treeline is becoming usable for winter recreation, though some shallowly buried obstacles remain.

Minor cracking on wind-drifted features.

Storm totals increase with elevation and on wind-drifted slopes. I measured anywhere from 18 to 22 inches in wind-sheltered terrain below treeline. Leeward slopes - on the west aspect of Green Butte Ridge - consistently held over 40 inches of new, drifted snow atop yesterday's crust. In wind-sheltered areas, the new snow is generally right-side-up, with softer snow atop harder snow. 

Signs of instability were difficult to find today, though poor visibility limited observations above treeline. A snowpit on a relatively wind-sheltered slope at 8,100 feet showed several density changes within the new snow. Two of these layers produced initiating test results: ECTN15 down 18cm, and ECTN18 down 40cm (see annotated photo). Continued loading may stress these layers further.