Quick report
The objective of today was to assess the extent of the recently formed surface crust, and look for instabilities in the snowpack. Yesterday's new snow has quickly formed a 1.5 inch (3.81 cm) thick surface crust extending up to 9,500 feet. This crust is quite challenging to travel through on skis. Above 9,500 feet, the surface crust begins to fade, becoming nearly nonexistent above 10,500 feet. Ski quality reports were pretty consistent: heinous survival skiing below 9,500 feet. Cold, dry, supportable snow from 9,500 feet to the summit.
As for observed instabilities, there was nothing to see.
Bunny Flat was a madhouse today! Being the only place for winter recreation, everyone was eager to get on the new snow. At one point there were 150+ cars (extending down to Sand Flat), with hundreds of people barbecuing and playing in the snow. Skiers got all across the south side. People could be seen at Lake Helen, Green Butte Ridge, at the Red Banks, The Thumb and many other places.
No instabilities were observed.Weather
- Air Temp
- 25
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- Trace
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
For the most part, skies remained overcast, with seasonably cold temperatures, and calm winds. The majority of the cloud cover was trapped between 5,000 and 9,000 feet. Below and near treeline terrain had poor visibility, but above treeline terrain punched through the cloud line. Those who got above the cloud line found better visibility and thin, upper level clouds. By mid-afternoon, temperatures warmed to above freezing.