Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 6, 2023
Submitted:
April 6, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Matt Primomo
Zone or Region:
Stevens Pass
Location:
Big Chief (4000-5900 W-N-E-SE)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Old rollerball track, frozen.
Profile on an E aspect at 5,350ft. Weaker wet grains were found from 10-30cm down. This corresponds with the 3/31 crust.
Dense moist, newer snow over large, weaker wet grains.
Sharp, shallow fresh wind drifts.
Low clouds coming in from the east.
Sheltered, open N facing slopes held decent riding.
Textures on the edge of a snow pillow.
The forest is still very wintry in north facing slopes.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FKIWE1zS3EI

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Wind:
Moderate , E
New/Recent Snowfall:
1"

Overcast first half of the day with good visibility, then became socked in with light snow. Moderate E winds at pass level and on exposed ridgelines. Snow changed to rain at about 3,500ft on the E side when I left at about 3:30pm.

Snowpack Observations

Travel was generally pretty easy with ski pen around mid boot. Surface snow was often moist, sometimes with a crust, but dry settled powder was found on N facing slopes. This made for surprisingly nice ski quality on some direct N aspects.

I found about an inch of new snow, and gusty E winds had drifted it into very isolated, very small but surprisingly reactive wind slabs off the ridge on NW'ly facing slopes. Other slopes had about 10cm of newer snow over the 3/31 crust. Even though it was cloudy, slopes were softening on E-S aspects, but not so much that it was unsupportable or punchy.

I dug a profile on a steep E facing slope at 5,450ft near Hollywood Bowl, finding an HS of 290cm. The finer grained, newer snow was moist on top, becoming dry near the base of it. This sat over a layer of large, weaker wet grains. I did get some test results on this layer, but they were inconsistent. (CTM SC, PST 50/100 (End), PST 30/100 (Sfc).

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