Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

Eric Haskell · Jan 7, 2019 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

View on map

Weather

Moderate - heavy snowfall all day. Moderate to strong west winds with active snow transport. Obscured skies. HN24 11" @9687'.

Snowpack

Collapsing and cracking on south aspects - likely between dew crust and melt freeze crust -> saw one pocket that looked like it ripped out on that layer. One roll failed on newest buried surface hoar 35cm down on north aspect. Cracking on descent on north aspect. Wind rolls easily failing on subtle east facing pockets.

Avalanche

Multiple small natural and easy skier triggered avalanches on all aspect in storm interface ~10cm down. No avalanches observed releasing on surface hoar. Deepest pocket that was observed was natural on south aspect.