Obs-Snow Profile: Skyline 1/28/2011

Observer Name: 
Darce Trotter Steve Cote
Region: 
Skyline
Observation Date: 
01/28/2011
Location or Route: 
Electric Lake Bowl skiers far right
Weather
Sky: 
Clear
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Weather Comments: 

temps very warm, guess well into the 40's

Snow Characteristics

Snow Characteristic Comments: 

Highly variable, some areas scoured to MLK crust, thing wind crusts, recyrstalized powder in sheltered areas, would change within feet, you could find consistent soft settled snow in the right places, but access and egress were sketchy, similar to Grants great pictures from yesterday showing glazed over areas.  We skied a specific area we felt would hold the best conditions, but as slope angles flattened out and became more exposed you would clatter out on highly vairable crust that was failing in some places (the sound was un-nerving)

Red Flags

Red Flag Comments: 

Buried surface hoar is alive and well in sheltered areas, MLK crust is also highly variable, strong in some places, deteriorating in others, how do you forecast for that kind of variability?  No real load exists yet, but when applied, and weaker areas are hidden, things are going to get complicated.

Primary Concern

Primary Concern: 
Persistent Slabs
Probability: 
Low
Aspect: 
North
Northeast
East
West
Northwest
Elevation: 
Mid
Trend: 
Same
Elevation: 
9600'
Aspect: 
Northeast
Slope Angle: 
30
Slide1.JPG
snow_profile_location: 
United States
39° 37' 53.5404" N, 111° 14' 51.828" W
Comments - Photos - Videos (group 1)
November 26 2010 006.jpg
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Comments - Photos - Videos (group 2)

Crust we found was not as thick, nor as stout as Grant  and  Steve found over at Phone Shot

November 26 2010 010.jpg
Observed Danger Rating: 
Low
Forecast Danger Rating: 
Low
Snow Profile Location
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