Quick report
Today, Eric and I explored the Ash Creek Butte area in search of recent avalanche activity and general snow condition. The 19 Road is free of snow for a few miles past Pilgrim Creek. Consistent snow starts after Sugar Pine Butte, where logging operations have been working. Ash Creek Butte still has excellent snow coverage on all aspects, but there was no evidence of recent avalanches. In fact, most snow surfaces were quite firm and would be quite unpleasant to ski. In the East Bowl, specifically in the trees, cold and dry snow is still preserved, offering the best conditions I've seen this week.
No instabilities were observed.Weather
- Air Temp
- 32
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 1
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Precipitation fell on and off through the day, the majority falling in the form of graupel. Clouds also came and went, at times fully obscuring the sky, then clearing up. Wind was calm and unnoticeable.
Snowpack
For the majority of the observed terrain, snow surfaces were firm and supportable. Snowmobile penetration was around 2 to 3 inches. An average of 1–2 inches of soft snow sits above a widespread melt-freeze crust. Today's precipitation fell in the form of graupel, though did not result in measurable accumulation totals. Within the East Bowl of Ash Creek Butte, soft snow is preserved, especially in the trees.