CAIC Observation Report
SnowpackDavid Dellamora · Nov 22, 2010
Weather
left the truck at 1100 with BKN trending OVC, S-1 and single digit temp. light to moderate winds, blowing snow above tree line from the W.
Snowpack
Wind Effect: westerly aspects were generally scoured clean near ridge tops.
Snow Surface:easy skin conditions in loosely packed new snow that was 10-15cm deep in terms of skin-pen. Recent drifting was obvious on isolated terrain features.
Riding Conditions: descending through the trees was very good. Snow was supportable and the coverage was most likely better than at any point last season. There were very few snags and very little evidence of rocks or buried stumps.
Snowpack Discussion:dug a quick pit at the bottom of the ironing board, about 30m below tree line: punched through to the ground when I clicked out, depth was 96cm on a SW (230) slope that was 33 degrees in pitch, at 83cm there was breakable sun crust that was 1/2cm thick, mid-pack between 80 and 40cm was F to 4F, 40-28cm is the October buried crust and it was K on top and blue-grey ice below, 28cm to ground was 1-2mm facets. In terms of test results: STM 83cm Q2, STH 40cm Q3, CT11 83cm SC and CT25 40cm SP. Given the hard results, I’d guess trigging a slab on a 30 degree slope would be a challenge, but if a fracture were initiated it would run fast on the October crust.
Greatest Point of Danger:after test results, I felt that being at the bottom of the ironing board was notable danger. Leaving the truck, my objective was to ski the ironing board. However, I pulled the skins and milked good turns through the old growth trees.
Snow Surface:easy skin conditions in loosely packed new snow that was 10-15cm deep in terms of skin-pen. Recent drifting was obvious on isolated terrain features.
Riding Conditions: descending through the trees was very good. Snow was supportable and the coverage was most likely better than at any point last season. There were very few snags and very little evidence of rocks or buried stumps.
Snowpack Discussion:dug a quick pit at the bottom of the ironing board, about 30m below tree line: punched through to the ground when I clicked out, depth was 96cm on a SW (230) slope that was 33 degrees in pitch, at 83cm there was breakable sun crust that was 1/2cm thick, mid-pack between 80 and 40cm was F to 4F, 40-28cm is the October buried crust and it was K on top and blue-grey ice below, 28cm to ground was 1-2mm facets. In terms of test results: STM 83cm Q2, STH 40cm Q3, CT11 83cm SC and CT25 40cm SP. Given the hard results, I’d guess trigging a slab on a 30 degree slope would be a challenge, but if a fracture were initiated it would run fast on the October crust.
Greatest Point of Danger:after test results, I felt that being at the bottom of the ironing board was notable danger. Leaving the truck, my objective was to ski the ironing board. However, I pulled the skins and milked good turns through the old growth trees.