Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheBrian Gardel, Max Strotbeck · Jan 31, 2023 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Clear calm and bitter cold in the morning, warming to near 10F in the afternoon
Snowpack
Total height of snow measured near the top of Soda Mtn ranged 200cm on the low end on southerly aspects, to upwards of 350+cm on northerly aspects. Our latest storm snow from Jan 27-30 settled considerably, from the near 150cm we received down to 65-80cm. Overall the upper snowpack is slowly settling and becoming less reactive. Repeated extended column tests below ridgeline, between 10,600-10,800 feet, on NW, N, NE and SE facing slopes, produced moderate propagating resistant planar results at the Jan 27 new/old snow interface (65-80cm down). We observed no cracking, collapsing, or fresh avalanches. Cornices are growing larger and remain soft and touchy.
Avalanche
Results from a handful of extended column tests performed on various aspects and elevations in and around Soda Mtn. Wounded Knee (NNW, 10800ft, 30*, HS 250-300cm) ECTP5 @ 20cm within the storm snow and ECTP17 @ 70cm down at old/new interface. EBUT (NW, 10700ft, HS 350cm) ECTP15 @ 30cm down within storm snow and ECTP21 @ 80cm down at old/new interface. Left side of Three Stooges (N, 10600ft, 31*) ECTP13 @ 80cm at old/new interface. White Knuckle (SE, 10650ft, HS 220cm) ECTP11 @ 30cm down within the storm snow and ECTP17 @ 65cm down at old/new interface. Bottom of Cat Scratch (N, 9250ft) ECTP17 @ 70cm down at new/old interface.