Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

John Snook · Jan 12, 2013 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

Cold day with no wind. Broken cumulus clouds with an occasional flurry. Less new snow than expected.

Snowpack

North aspect, 9500'. 7 cm of storm snow on top of supportable midpack. Height of snow 128 cm. Snow pit indicated 35 cm of 1-2mm facets at base of pack, but strong pencil to 4-finger midpack made it difficult to influence the basal layer. No results (ECTX) from extended column test. Low probability of triggering a slide, but if it did go, it would likely fail in the basal facets. Pretty typical low probability-high consequence MOD danger.