Join us at our 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball

Observation: Skyline

Observation Date
1/26/2025
Observer Name
Magerl
Region
Skyline
Location Name or Route
Big Drift periphery
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Moderate wind along the ridgeline, surprisingly still moderate amount of wind down in the drainages in the trees. Would have expected less down low. Not much for snow transport down low, a bit up high.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Faceted Loose
Snow Characteristics Comments
Sastrugi along the ridgeline at 9,800 feet that bossed us around a bit as we headed toward the goods. In north-facing trees between 9,500 and 8,700 feet, easy surfing on small loose recrystalized grains. A thin crust almost everywhere, but you couldn't feel it on the turns. Some of the skintrack was wallowville, but generally easy going. North facing was mostly dried out facets that will likely create our next weak layer.
Red Flags
Red Flags Comments
Saw no cracking, felt no whumphs, jumped on a few 30+ degree slopes, found nothing reactive. Had some gear failure before I could dig a pit, switched focus to getting back out.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem #1 Comments
The weak snow is still there. Not too hard to push a pole to the ground. Equipment failure caused a fall, and getting back to vertical while laying in three feet of sugar was a challenge!
Comments
Photo shows the omnipresent thin crust on the north-facing slopes.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate