Steamboat & Flat Tops

Clear skies, light W winds and mild.

Surface snow was widespread SH ranging 6mm to 2cm+ in size. HS 100-140cm. Ski pen was 15cm, boot pen 50cm. Compression tests and extended column tests consistently failed at the new/old interface 25cm down (CT8, CT12, CT13, ECTP14), and on a thin layer of 1-2mm facets 55cm down (CT26, CT21, ECTP25). The latter is more concerning due to the size and density of the overlying slab (up to 1F hard). The Xmas crust/facet layer is ~70cm down and failed on compression tests (CT31 x2). I observed no cracking or collapsing on my tour. Recent signs of avalanches include a handful of small Loose-Wet releases and two large collapses from earlier in the week on low elevation South aspects (~9400ft), and a small skier-triggered wind slab on a North facing slope on Soda Mtn (~10200ft, previously reported and pictured below).