Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

Took a lap up Punta this morning rather than risk losing another toe to the cold wait times standing around at MMSA.

• Tair at the Propane Tanks was 12 deg, Mod NW winds gusting to strong and blowing snow out of the trees throughout the BTL in the Sherwins.
• HST settled quite a bit, sheltered terrain having 30-40cm of new, with ski pen a relatively effortless (compared to yesterday at least) 40cm. Boot pen remained 60cm. Cracks in settlement cones were a common sight.
• Lots of wind transport in the classic loading zones (steep panel between top of Tele Bowls and Bardini Chute, W shoulder of skier’s left Tele Bowl), but wind slab felt isolated.
• Tree bombs coming down frequently made hoods a good idea and they noticeably affected the surface quality in the sheltered Old Growth.
• Terrain effect and shifting winds near 9,900′ was loading all aspects, winds increasing to Strong.
• We skied 35 deg sheltered treed glades, and experienced no evidence of storm slab instabilities, avoiding steep wind loaded features when entering into the skier’s right Tele Bowl.