Southern San Juan

Snowpack

Ski Patrol WolfCreek · Dec 14, 2012 · Southern San Juan

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Weather

HS for 13 Hrs 3:00 am-4pm 15 inches about 1 in per hr. There were periods of 2 inches per hr. Winds gusting 45-50. Still snowing hard leaving the ski area.

Snowpack

We had a very reactive snowpack in the ski area. Morning AHR work in zones that had been previously skied produced 6 inch- 1 ft SS's. Zones that were untouched slid to the ground. AHR work on the Knife Ridge and Numbered chutes which are essentially backcountry at this point were running to the ground while approaching the slopes. Patrollers noted the large surface hoar present in many of the the slides. Slides and chuting cracks were propagating across the ridges and gullies. Later in the day in the previously controlled areas fresh wind slabs were sliding with ski cuts.