Quick report
We traveled to Link Mountain to de-rime the weather station and take a closer look at uried weak layers before the incoming storm.
- We found weak layers in our pits on both northerly and southerly slopes. These produced stable results in our snowpack tests.
- Good visibility allowed periodic views of the surrounding peaks. The only recent avalanche activity we noted were small, loose dry sluffs on steep rocky slopes.
- We observed 2 natural small soft slabs from the 12/29-12/30 storm on our descent.
- We triggered several small sluffs on steep slopes. One of these ran several hundred feet into a creek bed.
- We encountered NE winds at upper elevations. We did not see any current wind loading, despite abundant amounts of snow available for transport. However, our travel did not include current leeward (westerly) slopes.
We felt comfortable skiing steep slopes with short convex rollers. We skied this type of terrain one at a time. In lower angle terrain, we group skied enjoying the fresh snow!
No collapsing, small sluffs in steep terrain.Weather
- Air Temp
- 20
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Rain Elevation
- 3000
- Recent Snowfall
- 20-30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Moderate NE winds as we ascended into upper elevations. Ample snow available for transport. S-1 snow started at 3pm. Slight evidence of recent wind loading from light SW winds on exposed features.
Snowpack
- Northerly Aspect: 6,500 ft,
- HS = 225cm, 12/7 surface hoar down 130cm and rounding
- Compression Test: CTM23 (RP) down 15cm and CT M26 (RP) down 20cm on precipitation particles
- Deep Tap Test: DTN x 2 on 12/7 surface hoar layer
- ECT23N down 20 cm on precipitation particles
- PST 100/130 (End) down 130cm on 12/7 surface hoar
- Sourtherly Aspect 7,200', 29° slope, wind-exposed ridge
- HS = 150cm
- Two facet layers (4F) down about 75cm
- Extended Column Test: ECTX and ECTN down 25cm on precipitation particles
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- NE
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 6000 ft
Recent natural sluffs in steep terrain. Noticed 2 natural soft slabs during our descent that likely slid during the 12/29-12/30 storm. Tiggered several small sluffs.