Bow Summit area

Quick report

ds.healey · Jan 10, 2026 · West Side 93N

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Quick report

Weather
cloudy, warm, windy
Ride Type
openTrees
Stayed Away
convexSlopes
Riding Quality
good
Snow Conditions
powder, windAffected

Weather

Avg Temp
-3
Wind Speed
windSpeedStrong
Blowing Snow
intense
Sky Condition
brokenClouds
Wind Direction
W
Temperature Trend
rising
Precipitation Type
none

Strong winds & downdrafts, along with a very warm (for the Rockies) afternoon made for a blustery day. Extensive snow plumes at treeline & above. Cornices still small & tender,

Snowpack

Depth
175
Obs Type
point
Site Aspect
NE
Test Fracture
sudden
Site Elevation
2150
Ski Penetration
10
Test Initiation
hard
Foot Penetration
30
Test Failure Depth
25
Site Elevation Band
btl
Surface Conditions
newSnow
Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
other

Compression test result with 28 taps, with a sudden planar break. A thin layer of partially decomposed dendrites appeared to be the failure layer, with a 4 finger (resistance) slab above, and 1 finger slab below. The failure layer was 3-5mm thick and approximately fist resistance, ie weak in structure. This may have been a layer that existed roughly where the surface hoar layer is present in the snowpack.