Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheJacob Mielke ยท Jan 29, 2017
Weather
Mostly sunny. Around 15 degrees with slight winds. Very cold sub zero temperatures over night.
Snowpack
We observed a slight weak layer (probably freeze crust) around 2 feet deep with a very thick, dense slab above it. We were not able to get a crack to propogate on this layer with the extended column test. We did notice a very weak layer around 6 inches deep. It was very unstable and the snow routinely was shearing off of it. The snow above had not yet formed a stiff slab so it just sluffed off but I would image with enough wind or new snow it could create a very hazardous layer. The layer broke multiple times while digging a snow pit and even on the flat approaches to the slope we could feel it collapsing under our feet. We did notice wide spread hoar frost forming on the surface on the north approach to Hahns peak.
Avalanche
We observed two avalanches on east facing slopes on our drive back to steamboat. They were on private property so we were not able to go evaluate the layers. From the road they looked to be about 2 to 3 feet deep and about 50 feet wide. They broke on the ridge of a very small slope on a ranch and appear to be natural causes.