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Observation: Big Drift/Skyline Summit

Observation Date
2/26/2023
Observer Name
Magerl
Region
Skyline » Scofield Reservoir » Gooseberry Creek » Big Drift/Skyline Summit
Location Name or Route
South Skyline/Big Drift area
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
No visibility in the morning, with large pine trees less than 20 meters away completely invisible. Nausea-inducing route finding! Occasional snow falling, sometimes decent visibility in the trees. Then we headed up on the ridge for the return to Big Drift and were wandering blind again. Big sun broke out for the drive to the valley, of course. Wind could be heard in the trees, but was barely noticeable if you were off exposed ridges. Limited snow moved by wind where we were, nothing like last weekend. Sun hit almost all west-facing slopes hard starting at 4 P.M. as best I could tell from the valley.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Protected north-facing snow mid-slope was outstanding. Highest north facing shallow had seen sun and had a crust below about 2-3 inches of fresh. Every other aspect had crust under the limited fresh. Short burst of midday graupel as the storm departed. Much sastrugi forming on the western slope just off South Skyline near the summer trailhead, much still soft enough to be perhaps mildly annoying for kiters and barely noticeable for motorized users.
Comments
We hit several small test slopes of 30 degrees or more including some with convex rolls. All north facing, well below the ridgeline. Nothing cracked, collapsed, sloughed. I don't anticipate Monday being much more reactive away from ridgelines.
Snow is deep! Same location (north face, 8,600 feet, west of South Skyline Drive), same week last year had total depth at 140 cm. Today it was 225 cm.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low