Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

r jeremy bailey · Feb 1, 2020 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

View on map

Weather

high clouds throughout day. mostly calm with mild gusts at higher elevations. temps in upper 20s.

Snowpack

dug pit on 35 degree E aspect @ 9800 feet BTL. HS 180 cm. two extended column tests, both CTN. additional hammering on both yielded deep failures approx 100 cm from surface on faceted snow. one extended column test - ECTX. additional reefing resulted in a deep failure approx 95 cmd from surface on faceted snow as well.

Avalanche

no whumphing or collapsing observed. no avalanches seen. one older (day-old?) point release noticed below a wind-loaded E aspect @ approx 9500 feet.