Steamboat & Flat Tops
SnowpackMax Strotbeck · Mar 19, 2024 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
The day started cold but temperatures rose to above freezing below treeline and near freezing near treeline. Few clouds with light northwest winds. No new snow.
Snowpack
I found the height of snow to be around 100cm near Willow Creek Pass and closer to 200cm in near treeline terrain around 11,000 feet. On the northwest through north through east slopes that I viewed near and above treeline, wind-scoured snow was widespread but more pronounced on steeper slopes. On the surface near treeline, I found 5-8mm surface hoar crystals specific to northerly aspects that recently formed after the strong east winds subsided, but otherwise wind-broken grains. Digging into the snow on northeast and southeast aspects near treeline, I found a 1-finger to pencil hard slab atop a thin layer of facets buried 85cm to 70cm down respectively. This layer showed evidence of rounding on the southeast aspect but the facets are well-preserved on the northeast aspect. I did not see propagation on this layer in extended column tests, but a compression test did yield quality 1 shears with hard taps on the southeast aspect and moderate taps on the northeast aspect. I did not find any distinct crusts layers on the southeast aspect apart from within the upper 10cm or so. Heading back down the mountain in the afternoon, the upper snowpack on below treeline slopes was moist to the point that I sunk to my calves when I took off my skis near the trailhead. I experienced neither cracking nor collapsing during my tour. I did not see any recent avalanches.