Steamboat & Flat Tops

Snowpack

Dustin Eldridge · Feb 16, 2013 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

First clear day after a few storms dropped small amounts on consecutive days at mid-elevations, with the ski area reporting 13 inches at the summit (10,500) in 24 hrs that morning.

Snowpack

We dug our profile on an ESE aspect (126) near the summit of Walton Peak at about 10,500 ft. New snow depth of 35 cm. Melt-freeze crust visible at 115 cm and depth hoar crystals up to 70 cm. We performed two compression tests. CTM (15) Q3 at old/new snow interface, then CTM (19) Q1 SP at melt-freeze crust. Then CTH (21) Q1 SP above depth hoar. Similar results on test two. CTM (14) Q2 at new/old snow interface, CTM (18) Q1 on Melt-freeze, and CTH (24) Q3 on depth hoar. This is my first observation I've submitted so feedback is greatly appreciated.