Public Observation

Observation Details

Observations

Skied up Rock Creek Road yesterday (13th) to try and squeeze another big line out of the break in the weather, however with a late start the storm beat us to it and we bailed. Looked for a sun crust from the greenhousing that was reported on the 12th but only found a thin sun crust on a south aspect of a snowbank on the edge of the road above Tom's place around 8000'. Didn't notice any sun crust on the road otherwise or up higher, even on the western aspect above the sno-park. There were rollerballs on both sides of the road.

On the west facing slope above the sno-park we found heavy powder that made for difficult skinning but great, supportable skiing. There was a windslab on the cross loaded slope. We avoided the more northerly aspect of the gully (skiers left) because it looked quite crossloaded. The middle and more southerly side (skiers right) also felt slabby but weren't reactive and felt well bonded. Only one switchback kick broke about 1 foot down, but the break was a middle ground between planar and non planar, trending towards non planar and was very resistant. I had to stomp hard multiple times and my partner had to pull hard enough to damage the block to investigate the fracture surface. However, the gully was actively being cross loaded when we left. Strong south winds started around 1130 and it started snowing around 1300. Lots of blowing snow up high after ~1230. Windslabs were actively forming in the gully above the sno-park and conditions were deteriorating from midday on. The storm chased us out in the afternoon and our skinner was mostly filled in when exiting. Also noticed cornices on NE aspects of Red Mountain.

To no surprise the rock creek road wasn't plowed, so it is a long walk in if planning to ski back there, but the snow was very supportable and skinning was very easy on the road even when breaking.

Signs of Unstable Snow