Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

Toured in the June BC today. Skied a N aspect from 11,578′ down to 7400′.

• We saw several Loose Wet sloughs on E to NE facing terrain coming from steep and unsupported rocky terrain and slopes underneath rock walls. All were D1 or D1.5 in size.
• Yesterday’s snowfall didn’t accumulate to more than very shallow ribbons of wind deposited snow.
• Snow above 9600′ on a N aspect was still dry but getting a little softer because of the high cirrus cloud cover and relatively strong solar radiation.
• Increasing cloud cover throughout the day and increasing green housing was warming the snow surface.
• Light breeze at ridge top elevations but almost calm below ridges.
• Wet surface snow below 9600′ in the top 5 cm. Below that 10 cm moist snow. Dry snow below that.
• NW aspect at 8800′ had 5 cm of wet snow and also 10 cm of moist grains below that. P hard crust below that and dry snow underneath.
• Around 13300 hrs from 9600′ down to 8000′ on a NW aspect we got a boot pen of 20 cm on a supportable crust.  After 1400 hrs below 8000′ the snow was loose and wet with a boot pen of 30 to 40 cm ( boot top ). Our turns started rollerballs and pin wheels that became rather big. No loose wet sloughs started though.