Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

john morrone ยท Dec 31, 2013

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Weather

overcast, several inches snow in AM, incl brief graupel event., humid, nil wind, temps near 30F

Snowpack

soft new snow, boot cuff deep, over supportive firm snow (pre-christmas moist storm) ski pen= boot cuff, boot pen = knee+ south slopes have noticeable 1 cm thick sun crust with surface hoar below new snow. no evidence of sloughing, collapsing or cracking all day. FOUND A PRE- DUG OPEN test PIT at 9270', N30E exposure, 34 degree slope. new columns and observatons: HS= 150cm fist, (incl new snow) 130cm 1 finger homogenous 95 cm fist (old surface hoar?) 90 cm 1 finger 75 cm fist, facets 70 4 f homogenous 40 fist-basal facets no buried ice or crust layers found in pit. CT1: basal facets fail on isolation following CT test columns only isolated to 70 cm: CT2- easy (4) Q1 (SP) NEW SNOW INTERFACE (130CM) CT3- easy (5) Q1 (SC) at 75 cm facet interface

Avalanche

none seen