Flora Peak: don't bring your skis

Snowpack

allister.johnstone.233 · Feb 4, 2021 · Skagit

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Quick report

Weather
warm, sunny
Riding Quality
terrible
Snow Conditions
heavy, wet

Have you ever looked at your skis and thought "I really want to get you outside and carry you around on my back with no chance of putting you on my feet?" And have you really wanted to make it fun for your skis by carrying them up and over all kinds of deadfall and through creeks? Then this is the ski tour destination for you! With minimal snow coverage at the road that only got wetter and steamier with raising elevation, there was no risk of every truly skiing Flora's kind slopes thet day. If, however, one magical day there is 2+ meters at Chilliwack Lake Road (which is plowed, which was one of the few high points of the day) then you risk being compelled to gear up and ski Flora. That magical day, the mellow slopes and wide-spaced trees should be good.

Weather

Avg Temp
5
Min Temp
-1
Wind Speed
windSpeedCalm
Blowing Snow
none
Sky Condition
clear
New Snow24 Hours
0
Temperature Trend
rising
Precipitation Type
none
Precipitation24 Hours
0

Bright and sunny day. The sun was so warm that the snow was steaming and the trees were raining meltwater. Max temp was around 5 degrees in the sun and colder in the shade, but the sun was warming and wetting the snow.

Snowpack

Depth
30
Obs Type
summary
Site Aspect
S
Site Elevation
1300
Foot Penetration
30
Site Elevation Band
tln
Surface Conditions
variable

There was ~4-6 cm of snow at the road and no snow under trees or in the various creeks. As we gained elevation, there was slightly more snow in non-sheltered non-creek areas. Areas not sheltered by trees or splashy wet had up to 90cm of wet snow overlaid with a thin crust. If you stepped in these areas, your were up to your knees in it! In all areas, foot penetration was to the ground. The snowpack was steaming all day and the trees were dropping bombs and raining meltwater on our type-2-fun expedition.