Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheJason Konigsberg · Dec 27, 2018 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Snowpack
We dug on a variety of aspects (except southerly) at elevations from 9k to 10500 and found a similar snowpack. A faceted layer exists under a paper thin crust at 30 cm from the surface. Extended column tests were inconsistent with the lowest score at ECTP13 on an east-facing near-treeline slope. This layer is widespread but stubborn. It seems that where the layer is most pronounced the slab is the softest. On a wind-loaded slope with a thick slab it was hard to identify the layer and results were ECTX.---The other consistent weak layer is near the ground. A softer four-finger hard faceted layer exists about 30 cm from the ground. Only one test out of quite a few got propagating results on the deeper layer (ECTP26). This layer is specific to widespread in distribution but sits more towards unreactive in sensitivity.---The snowpack depth is pretty consistent at 1 meter in sheltered areas. The height of snow on a wind-loaded slope was about 1.5 meters.---We did not observe any recent wind slab development or any large areas of recent wind-drifted snow.
Avalanche
Visibility wasn't great but no avalanches were observed.