Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheMatt Hartsel ยท Dec 14, 2014
Weather
s-2, light sw to nw winds, 5-10mph. 15F. 5" reported at 8:30. another 3" fell by 15:30
Snowpack
Did not have time for a decent pit. Agree with a slab as discussed in the forecast for last week under the Ice crust. Above crust is near surface facets and surface hoar and now 8" of 10% +'s.
Avalanche
Many small ss-as-r1-d.5-0. These did not propagate more than 3 meters. Most areas I hit have been side stepped before the storm perhaps leading to less propagation. Also storm slab is ss, fist hand hardness. Slides did not travel far (small paths). Slides were resistant planar on a shear surface of either near surface facets or surface hoar. Activity was on NW @ 10,300 and N @ 9,000. Did have one ss-as-r1-d.5-o that released sudden planar on the ice crust at aprox. 10,200. This was a steeper slope 39? that was not side stepped before the storm. No action below the crust today. Will get better data in future as time permits.