Obs-Snow Profile: Skyline 1/13/2012

Observer Name:

Darce Trotter Steve Cote

Region:

Skyline

Observation Date:

01/13/2012

Location or Route:

Cougar Glades, Bolger Canyon

Weather

Sky:

Clear

Wind Direction:

West

Wind Speed:

Moderate

Weather Comments:

<2" of snow in a week, blew through on late Saturday, has continue clear and cold with west winds that have been busy in exposed areas (if there is anything left to blow around). Winds did lessen later in the day,

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

Snow Surface Conditions:

Faceted Loose

Snow Characteristic Comments:

newest layer joins the crowd, surface hoar on top, faceted, laying over the mix of graupel/facets that totaled last weeks new son.

We chose to use our old up track and avoid sand-boxing all day, but attempted to move onto more easterly aspects wondering if crusts would be supportable (wrong). Instead, found lasanga layering of suncrusts, facets, etc.

Due to high variability of crusts, windslab, facets, etc. We decided we needed to do as many pits as possible, moved beyond hasty pits to what we called "speed pits" and were able to sample the entire snowpack as many as 30-40 times as we descended a slope. We were so successful in this process we repeated it multiple times

I have to say this type of testing is my favorite, and we found good "test" conditions in selected areas with the biggest hazard were the terra firma. We did have another successful day skiing the entire snowpack on each turn.

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments:

We did notice a difference in the full depth facets as the grains all continue to get bigger. They seemed more dense today than a week ago, and we even harder to push through slowing our descent to the point that it reminded me of skiing sand (you have to have done it to appreciate it). This does not mean it is stronger, just different, if that is possible. Winds have moved snow down lower on slopes and created soft slabs on top of facets, but were inconsistent and highly variable in depth and distribution. I am sure in the right circumstances you could find pockets that would fail and propogate, but we stayed off the steeper terrain.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern:

Loose Snow/Sluffing

Probability:

Considerable

Aspect:

North

Northeast

Northwest

Elevation:

Mid

Trend:

Same

Primary Concern Comments:

not much to add to what has been discussed ad nauseum, but the facts remain the same, very shallow weak snow pack just waiting for a load, won't take much. It is a mine - field out there and the only slopes that could be trusted when we receive more snow would be low angle or on the south side of the compass (because we will be starting with dirt)

The complexity of the current underlying snowpack and spaital variability needs to be remembered when the pattern changes. A major storm will create a major cycle.

Elevation:

9400'

Aspect:

Northwest

Slope Angle: