Steamboat & Flat Tops
SnowpackCMC AIARE Lvl 1 · Dec 9, 2017 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Brisk single digit start to the day. Fresh coating of surface hoar early on that stuck around in some areas despite the warm temps in the afternoon. East facing aspects did not develop any sun crusts during the day.
Snowpack
65cms of snow. Main concern is ~25cms of 2-3mm basal facets capped by 1cm thick melt freeze crust. Above this layer is more facets capped by a 5cm thick melt freeze crust. 20cms of new snow from recent storm has stabalized and bonded well to old snow. Unreactive in shovel tilt test. Near surface facets are forming with current weather patterns. CT results were CTMx4 and CTHx4 and all failed at the interface between basal facets and 1cm thick melt freeze crust (down ~40cms/up ~25cms). ECTPx3 that also failed at the same facet/crust interface. All failures would be considered resistant planar. Slab is starting to settle as evidenced by 5cm tall settlement cones around bushes/grass. At this point though boot penetration is still full depth. Ski penetration is about 10-15cms.