Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

Jason Konigsberg · Apr 6, 2018 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

Weather

The ridge I was on is mostly sheltered from the wind but it sounded like the winds was strong in more exposed places. Skies were obscured all day with short bursts of intense snowfall. Snowfall rates generally at S1 for the majority of the day.

Snowpack

I traveled from 8600 ft to 9800 ft and found similar conditions regardless of aspect. 6 inches of heavy and wet dense snow sits on top of a slick crust. The new snow is bonded poorly to this crust and I was able to trigger avalanches in terrain over 35 degrees with small pushes of the new snow. Avalanche would pick up speed and entrain all the new snow while running down low-30 degree slopes. Beneath the crust the snowpack is either wet or moist. The crust and the snow above is the only concern and there were only small areas in thick trees that were unsupportable to skis.