Eric and Amy Flygare

Logan

Southern Idaho (Mink Creek)

We found great riding conditions on west to northwest facing terrain between 7000 and 8700 feet. There was about 12-15 inches of new snow from last weekend’s storm which completely covered the rime event that occurred two weeks ago. The snow has settled out now and is medium density snow. We found very little wind effected snow on all slopes we rode. Although the trees had recently rimed at upper elevations the snow surface was unaffected. Slopes facing south had a thin sun crust on them which got worse at lower elevations.

We dug a bunch of pits between 8000 and 8700 feet on 35 degree slopes. On a northwest facing slope at 8000 feet we found buried surface hoar (5-10 mm) resting on top of the rime crust from two weeks ago. The surface hoar was buried by 12 inches of medium density snow. Shovel shear tests produce a Q1.5 failure. Compression tests consistently failed at 13 or 14. Extended column tests would not propagate a crack. The interface at the 8-Jan rime crust never did produce a failure even after hurting our hands pounding on the shovel. Up higher at 8700 feet on a west facing slope, there was no buried surface hoar. These pits were closer to the ridgeline and the surface hoar either never existed or was blown away prior to last weekend’s storm. There were no signs of recent avalanche activity. No cracking, collapsing, whoomphing, etc.