Steamboat & Flat Tops
SnowpackBilly Grimes · Dec 1, 2013 · Steamboat & Flat Tops
Weather
Overcast
Snowpack
NE facing slope with 3-3.5ft of recrystalized faceted grains with lower layer (bottom 6-8" of snowpack) containing larger facets. Extensive large surface hoar was not observed. Got first comn to fail at Q12, this column failed at the ground and was directly on top of a rock. Two adjacent columns in same pit failed required excessive load (Q22), all eventually failed at the ground interface with very little energy. Ski decent consisted of nice recrystalized powder with areas or rotten snow. Biggest concern of the day were triggers around rock outcroppings. Several ski cuts on abrupt rollovers did not trigger any slabs but upcoming storm could be a tipping point for excessive stress for easier failure at ground.