Obs-Snow Profile: Skyline 2/21/2011

Observer Name:

Darce Trotter / Steve Cote

Region:

Skyline

Observation Date:

02/21/2011

Location or Route:

Big Meadow

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Light

Weather Comments:

bluebird day, warmed more that I thought it would. Looked like standard cruel winds of plateau have been a little more restrained other that right a summit ridgetops

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

10"

New Snow Density:

Low

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Snow Characteristic Comments:

wind damage not as widespread, area we skied is very susceptable to wind damage and skied very well just of flat ridgetop. 10" new Sat/Sun on top of 10" Thurs made for a little tougher trail breaking and was limiting to smaller machines. Snow stake at Miller Flat is up to 170 cm, exceptional depth for plateau.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Red Flag Comments:

smone cornice fall in chunks, still not triggering anything else. later in the day snowmo's tested several areas of extreme terrain with no results.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Wind Slabs

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Primary Concern Comments:

seems to be settling out well, Steve experienced some collapsing over by Electric Lake, but no settling or collapses today.

Secondary Concern

Secondary Concern:

Persistent Slabs

Aspect:

North

Northeast

East

West

Northwest

Elevation:

High

Trend:

Less Dangerous

Secondary Concern Comments:

Feel new snow is bridging over MLK crust and hazard may be fading with the exception of extreme terrain on thinner edges of snow lense (I really like the analogy, think Drew first used it?)

Elevation:

9500'

Aspect:

Northeast

Slope Angle:

snow_profile_location:

United States

39° 34' 21.8928" N, 111° 16' 31.9404" W

Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)

Bid Drift well tested

Observed Danger Rating:

Moderate

Forecast Danger Rating:

Moderate

Snow Profile Location

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