Steamboat & Flat Tops
AvalancheBrian Gardel · Jan 27, 2023 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Overcast and snowing throughout the day with temperatures in the low to mid teens. Snowfall rate approached to 2 inches an hour in the afternoon. Winds were calm below treeline and blowing at moderate speeds from the West/Southwest near treeline and along the ridge of Soda Mountain.
Snowpack
At 10:30am, total snow depth at 10,000ft (the Z) was 119", with 14 inches of new snow over the past 24hrs. Winds were moving snow along ridges and loading upper lee slopes. The surface snow was very reactive on all aspects and elevations, with long shooting cracks and easily triggered test slopes. Higher density snowfall in the afternoon overlaid the low density snow from overnight, resulting in a upside down and super touchy snow surface.
Avalanche
On South facing slopes, we observed evidence of numerous small naturals and had good results ski cutting pockets that were releasing on a melt/freeze crust up to 12" deep (multiple SS-ASc-R1D1). On Northerly slopes, by afternoon we were finding the top 4" of higher density storm snow was collapsing over the lighter snow below causing widespread wrinkles on the surface.