Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Jan 1, 2020 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
A warm and snowy day with accumulation rates of S5 at times. Temperature at 30F with overcast skies. Blowing snow was observed in open exposed valleys and at ridgelines.
Snowpack
The near and below treeline terrain that I was on today was soft and stable. There were persistent grains in the lower half of the snowpack but they were not reactive in stability tests. The structure of the pack did not have alarming issues and propagation of slabs was not observed. For nearly 2 hours I did observe rimed precipitation particles that created a subtle density change on the surface of the snow. On more sun exposed areas a very thin melt-freeze crust had developed, 10cm deep, with yesterdays late sun on the new snow. No firm wind or storm slabs have yet developed, but it is still snowing heavily. Extended Column Test X (no result) Compression Test X (no result) Shovel Shear Hard @ 13cm Propagation Saw Test 80/100 Stop Fracture @ 70cm
Avalanche
NO new avalanches observed.