Public Field Report

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Toured Bench Hut area. Travelled between 7,000 and 9,600 feet on all aspects. Skied numerous shots on different north aspects (from northwest to northeast) and also southeast. We skied up to 50 degrees. We went in Friday midday and came out Sunday afternoon and skied all three days.

We were surprised at how wind affected the snow was even in sheltered north facing trees. Our group of 12 divided into smaller groups and skied different shots off of the north side of the triangle above the fourth lake. All groups found pockets of powder but lots of wind affected snow as well. We toured into the fifth lake bowl and all of that snow was really wind affected. Travel was slick. Soft snow was found only in very specific locations (8300 feet, 35 degree slope, north). Very flat slopes also had softer snow. On Friday and Saturday, the crapper was fully crusty in both morning and late afternoon. Yesterday (Sunday) we found that the Crapper had softened not quite to corn but was almost fun to ski! We also saw no surface hoar on any aspects or slope angles.