Quick report
- Red Flags
- Wind Loading, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Wind was actively transporting snow onto lee slopes. I would expect formation of some small new wind slab deposits on easterly aspects. Snowpack was mostly damp with the bottom few centimeters near the ground being dryer and consisting of small grain facets on all except the most sun and wind exposed upper elevations aspects. Some cracking at skis, but nothing of significance. </p>
Poked around the Beaver Mountain periphery a bit today and was surprised to find a bit more snow than anticipated in places, although variable. Some of the deepest spots were estimated 2.5-3ft of total snow, and some of the thinner exposed areas with a foot or so total. Definitely still tiptoeing on the downhill, as some of the shallowly buried terrain features and downed vegetation and other sharks were on my mind. I apologize about the lack of photos. Worth noting to keep an eye out for Beaver Mountain ski area activity and uphill policy changes as they get closer to opening chairlifts.
Snowpack
Snow surface and upper snowpack was damp on most aspects and elevations and skied well, despite some areas of rotten snow and bushes. Some variability in snow surface with damp old snow, some pockets of dryer snow, and some stiffer wind slabs on NE aspect near ridge line.