Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Travelled in the relative lowlands of the Stuart Range, and found that Wednesday to Saturday's low-density powder skiing (HS 35-100cm/HST 35-45 cm depending on aspect) has been transformed by recent winds from around 3600' upward. Breaking trail in the same areas earlier in the week had a bottomless boot penetration, but the snowpack is now much more consolidated and supportive, with localized cracking to 2m. I managed a localized (3m diameter) collapse on sheltered NE terrain at 4200' w/ HS 85cm.

Snowpack is deep for the time of year, but structure remains poor, with moist basal facets on the ground at S/SE and dry facets on N/NE/E below the crust that caps the early-mid November storms' snow. The amount of 30 NOV storm snow still available for transport remains high, and facets from November are widespread. Slabs are minimally reactive today, but the slab over weak structure is firming up ahead of this week's forecasted storms.

Take away: we're seeing a slab begin to form over the well-documented poor structure in the eastern portions of the East Central zone.

Weather note: High overcast all day with increasing westerly winds; snow approaching S1 (cm/hour) at 4800' as I exited the field around 1500.

Ice conditions: Many of the local trade routes appear to be fattening up across the lower Icicle and Mountaineer Creek.