Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

Joe Messina · Mar 9, 2016 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

Winter-like conditions today. Snowed for the entire tour. No new snow this morning, but 3-4 inches fell by the end of our tour. Moderate to strong winds out of the SW and S. HS varied, but was 217 cm at snowpit location. Temperature taken at Lost Dog SNOTEL.

Snowpack

See snowpit. HS= 217 cm. Consolidated and strong. Could not find weak layers that were present on nearby tours (Meaden Peak, Hahns Peak Lake area). New snow falling since Monday sitting on a very stout crust (8 cm thick). Below the crust was consolidated rounds. Test results showed the only weakness to be in the new snow on a density change and also on the interface with the old snow surface (the crust). I was able to trigger some small Loose Dry avalanches, but it was not 'slabby'.