Coldfeet

Quick report

samirsomji · Nov 16, 2023 · Northwest Inland

View on map
Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3

Quick report

Weather
cold, sunny
Ride Type
mellowSlopes
Riding Quality
ok
Snow Conditions
powder
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSound

Good quality skiing but still very shallow up high. Large surface hoar crystals above 2000m. Lots of whumphing still, but no cracking or natural slab avalanches observed. Some dry loose natural activity up to sz 1 on sunny steep slopes. HS varied 50-75cm.

Weather

Wind Speed
windSpeedCalm
Blowing Snow
none
Sky Condition
scatteredClouds
New Snow24 Hours
10
Temperature Trend
steady
Precipitation Type
none

Snowpack

Obs Type
point
Site Aspect
NE, SW
Site Elevation
2200
Foot Penetration
40
Site Elevation Band
tln
Surface Conditions
newSnow, surfaceHoar
Whumpfing Observed
1
Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
other, facets

Dug a handful of pits on both aspects of coldfeet just below ridge line. Pictured is the NE aspect, SW aspect has a similar structure but overall shallower. Both have storm snow of varying depths on top of a 4cm crust and 5-10cm of facets to the ground. Tests on NE aspect got ECT no result, and a CT 14 sudden collapse on graupel layer @35cm. SW aspects got ECT results from very easy (while cutting back of block) to no result. Always failing at the base of the snowpack. Surface roughness and depth variability are correlated to these results. The smoother the ground and deeper the snow, the more likely it is to go.