AST Dec 31 Mt Wash

Quick report

Weather

sunny

Ride Type

mellowSlopes, openTrees

Stayed Away

alpineSlopes, steepSlopes

Riding Quality

ok

Snow Conditions

hard

Sharpen your ski edges. It is firm out there! The big hazards of the day were not avalanche related but more related to potential slips/falls on the hard icy snow or hitting exposed objects like rocks, dirt patches or open creeks with the low snow levels. From 1100 to 1300m on a southern aspect we found widespread surface hoar (up to 4mm) sitting on a very hard and impenetrable crust that was 15-20 cm thick. Under the crust was 15-20 cms of well settled moist snow. The lower snowpack had a second thicker crust (approx 30-40cm) with 5cm of large weak basal facets at the ground level. Tests mainly had no results except for one compression test that produced a moderate failure with a somewhat planar character just above the second/lower crust. Looking around we could see evidence of previous loose wet avalanche activity out of steep rocky terrain but nothing was moving today with the colder temps.