CAIC Observation Report

Snowpack

Brian McCall ยท Nov 21, 2010

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Weather

Generally overcast to obscured skies. Occasional breaks in the clouds, though these were brief. Light snow most of the day. Highly variable wind directions and strengths below treeline. Didn't get a look above treeline for wind transport though stronger winds could be heard.

Snowpack

Below treeline areas in the Ashcroft valley still have a very shallow snowpack. HS varied from only around 10-20 cm at the trailhead (9000 ft)to 60-70 cm at 11,000 ft. General snowpack structure here- melt freeze crust on the ground, mid pack made up of small facets and mixed forms, 10cm new snow in the upper snowpack. Some graupel falling today at the snow surface. Snowpack up to 11,000 ft was all low density, mostly F-F+ hardness. Boot and ski pen mostly to the crust near the ground, about 60 cm just below treeline.