Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheDan Edmiston · Jan 28, 2017 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Temps around zero*F at 10am. High, thin clouds early in the day with some thicker clouds moving in around noon. Sun broke out towards early afternoon, temps ended up in low-20s mid-day.
Snowpack
Found well preserved 1-3cm buried surface hoar 25-50cms down, depending on windloading on NW and N facing aspects. East facing slopes had a thin crust/facet layer down about 40-50cms. Saw a D1 skier triggered slide on east facing slope that ran 1/25 on the crust/facet layer. CTMx2 sudden planar in the crown face of that slide. Slab is 4F to 1F stiff. Summited Iron Mtn with the intent to skier trigger the summit cone that has been known to slide in similar conditions. Unable to get any propagation due to lack of slab (Fist to 4F+) on due north aspect despite well preserved surface hoar at 25cms down. Slight aspect change on summit cone to a more NW facing, windloaded slope, BSH down 50cms, stiffer slab, CTMx2 sudden collapse, ECTP11 SC. These small pockets are a likely indication of what's coming once the slab stiffens. North Routt is not experiencing the widespread touchy conditions just yet.
Avalanche
D1 skier triggered slide from ~1/25 on east aspect ~9100ft. Ran on thin crust/facet combo. Slab 4F to 1F.