Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Noted a lot of weak snowpack on Columbia Mt yesterday (from 5.5k'~6.8k'). My snowshoes (with fins) and boots were punching through to ground in low coverage areas on south facing slopes and down 2' on west facing slopes earlier on in the day. The one saving grace I had was that old ski tracks had caused the surface layer snowpack to solidify to the point where I could boot out much of the way and I was able to get in and out safely before the entire snowpack turned to mush under my feet.

The temperature was 45 degrees F at the Kettle Crest TH when I left around 08:20 per the thermometer in my CrossTrek and was 55 degrees F when I got back around 10:50.

The Kettle Range/Colville NF area snow yesterday (on the drive out) seemed very non-existent/weak, which seems to be aligning with a trend of disappearing snowpack on the east side of the Cascades :(.