Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

Dan Edmiston ยท Jan 31, 2016

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Weather

Calm winds but evidence of dominant SW winds over night. Evident wind slab layer in open meadows and open north facing slopes. Areas where snowpack was covered in fully intact stellars so wind died down before snow stopped

Snowpack

NNW facing slopes, 8600ft, 33 degree pitch at pit wall. CTM x3 down 30cm on thin buried facet layer. Unable to distinguish if near surface facets (NSF) or surface hoar (SH). Upon collapsing the pit wall skier was able to trigger (x2) a subsequent facet layer about 60-70cms down with an equivalent RB3 loading step. Wind affect was evident in spots that were skied, but not evident in pit. Informal continued loading of CT columns after initial failure (in moderate taps) showed subsequent failures down 60cm and 100cm with Q1/SP fracture character towards the end of the moderate loading steps. Stepdown potential seems present.

Avalanche

No avalanches observed, either natural or triggered, within the lower Soda Creek drainage.