Farm Cabin Weekend

Snowpack

esarhawkins · Dec 8, 2018 · Chic-Choc Mountains

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Quick report

Weather
cold, windy, sunny
Ride Type
alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes, openTrees
Stayed Away
steepSlopes
Riding Quality
Good
Snow Conditions
powder

Weekend trip out to the Farm Cabin and slopes on either side of the meadow on Dec 7-9. Significant warming through the weekend from ~ -15 (Friday) to near 0 by Sunday. Upper 20 cm powdery facets with a consistent rain/ice crust down ~45 cm. Significant surface hoar (greater than 10 mm in areas) developed throughout the area, though gusty and warm conditions on Dec 9 may help to blast out the surface hoar. Excellent skiing on a fairly solid snowpack, but the surface hoar may become a problem layer in the near future. Notable snow transport with loading on NNE aspect slopes on Dec 9.

Snowpack

Conducted two pits on either side of the Farm Cabin Meadow (one North-facing, the other South) with similar results and layering between pits. Pit1 (N aspect, "Bowling Alley", open glade): CTM7 resistant planar down 25cm; CTH4 sudden planar down 45 cm on ice crust, ECTH4 partial 30cm propagation down 45cm. Pit2 (S aspect, open glade NW of Farm Cabin): CTM8 resistant planar down 45cm on ice crust.