Lightning Strike Ridge

Weather

Miles Kenyon-Slaney · Mar 3, 2020 · North Rockies

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Quick report

Weather
windy, warm, sunny
Ride Type
mellowSlopes, denseTrees, steepSlopes, openTrees
Stayed Away
alpineSlopes, sunnySlopes
Riding Quality
OK
Snow Conditions
heavy, windAffected
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSlab

Skied the N/NE aspects of Lightning ridge. Riding was ok, with no crust but heavy, wind affected snow. Stayed away from S aspects and from lee features to try and find stable, quality snow. Everything felt stable, with no evidence of the Feb 22nd surface hoar layer being reactive on BTL slopes.

Snowpack

Dug a quick test pit at the top of Lightning Strike Ridge on the N/NE aspect. No evidence of the Feb 22nd surface hoar layer being reactive, although a wind slab was forming to a depth of 20cm. Snow was heavy when skiing, but felt stable and well bonded for the most part. In the most sheltered areas it became softer.