Observation: Birch Creek

Observation Date
3/7/2026
Observer Name
Magerl
Region
Skyline » Birch Creek
Location Name or Route
Birch Creek
Weather
Weather Comments
Sunny and felt very warm until midday, despite the nearby Skyline weather station recording a temperature between 25 and 29 the entire time we were out. That sun was strong! By 2 P.M., most of the sky was covered by high clouds. Virtually no wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments

Day started out with good, light snow on top of a very supportable crust. Skinning was easy, turns were fun and predictable. On anything steep, you could feel the firm layer below, but the snow behaved very well. No sloughing, even on steep slopes. No cracking or collapsing, no signs of previous slides. By 2 P.M., east-facing that had seen direct sun before noon and was now in the shade was already crusting up. You could feel it and hear it. Exit run on ENE at 3 P.M. was now breakable crust. I expect to find widespread crusts tomorrow. Saw evidence of wind transport mid-slope from earlier in the week, but saw no transport today.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Plenty of weak snow sandwiched between firm layers. Dug a pit at 9,040 feet on NE facing 31 degree slope. ECTP24, failing on a layer 65 cm from the ground. Total depth 130 cm, so it took the top 65 cm. A stout crust 20 cm from the top, and another 20 cm from the ground. Large loose wet grains in the bottom 20 cm. Mostly 1F in the middle of the snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate