Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

Dan Edmiston · Mar 14, 2021 · Steamboat & Flat Tops

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Weather

Blowy and snowy as expected. Light NNE winds with frequent moderate gusts. Temps were mid to upper 20's. 2-3" new snow at trailhead in the morning with quite a bit of snow transport seen all day.

Snowpack

2-3" of storm snow was moving fairly easy on ski cuts on 35+ degree convexities and was showing easy, but localized cracking along the skin track. Skied north aspects 10-10,500ft. No wumphing or collapsing observed. Ski quality was varied due to wind transport. Old snow surface got hammered with sun and warm temps and loaded spots skied well, but scoured spots were unpleasant.

Avalanche

Natural D1 storm slab on SE aspect, 35+ degree slope, ~10,000ft, 20m wide, 50-60m vertical, very shallow crown that filled in quickly.