Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

john morrone · Dec 28, 2021 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

obs sky, light snowfall, 1 mile viz, light w -sw wind, 20F.; 8400- 9400' traveled over N- W-S exposures .

Snowpack

no woomphing or cracking observed boot pen = crotch ski pen= boot top HS 120 at 9400 top of BTL trail; supportive mid layer with boot top storm snow HS 70 at 9000' on exposed W rib, again supportive mid layer with 20-30 cm storm snow, 1m + HS 200' lower in sheltered open trees. quick pit on rib revealed 1F- coarse basal layer, with 2 separate M/F crust-facet layers in mid pack, and 10-20cm 1F and 20CM F storm snow to top . quick hand shear revealed easy shear of 1F layer with Q1 base on top crust-facet horizon, looked like 1-2 mm surface hoar on bottom of shear slab.

Avalanche

none seen