Windy Daze

Quick report

m__callaway · Feb 4, 2017 · Sea To Sky

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Quick report

Weather
cold, windy, sunny
Ride Type
alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes, denseTrees, sunnySlopes, openTrees
Stayed Away
alpineSlopes, convexSlopes, steepSlopes
Riding Quality
OK
Snow Conditions
hard, windAffected
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSound, avalancheConditionSlab

Shames obs. from past two days. We skied treed and alpine NW, W and SW aspects from 700-1400m. Cracking/drum-like sounds where wind-affected. Clear, cold, and windy AF both days - notable snow transport occurring from strong NE winds. Observed at least 4 recent natural wind slabs size 1-2 on alpine lee (S-SW) features (two crowns seen at close range 10 to ~50cm depth). Snow pits in open trees on S and W aspects at 1200m and 1300m, respectively, showed near identical compression test results: 270 cm snowpack depth, CTH ~27 (SP) down 65cm on surface hoar. Ski quality was best in sheltered trees – marginal/terrible (character building) where wind affected.