Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheRyan Lewthwaite · Jan 29, 2020 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Scattered clouds and a light northwest wind with minimal snow transport. Light snow S-1 and new snow of 10cm. The air temperature was 20F.
Snowpack
10cm of new, low-density, snow fell overnight. The northwest winds were light and had little effect on the surface snow. A weak layer of buried surface hoar 33cm down from the surface was the primary concern in stability tests. Although stubborn to fail, this layer showed repeatable results in compression tests. Long column tests did not favor propagation amidst the upper slab. The base of the snowpack is over 20cm of loose depth hoar. The surface of the snow that has been exposed to sun has a thin breakable melt-freeze crust.
Avalanche
No new avalanches