CAIC

Details

Ridgeline Wind Speed: 5-10 mph
Ridgeline Wind Direction: N
Wind Loading: Previous
Temperature: 30 F
Sky Cover: Overcast
Depth of Total Snow: 150 cm
Most Significant Precip Rate: S1 - 1 cm/hr
Weather Description: Warm, calm, and overcast. Snow started around 3:30 pm. Big flakes and periods of S1 still going at 4:45pm.

Snowpack Description: Snowpack got very warm yesterday and all but due north aspects had a thin surface crust over the snow from earlier in the week. On southerly aspects, the remnants of this weeks snow are barely discernible and has been "absorbed" into the snowpack. Stout crusts a few inches thick cap the snowpack. Easterly aspects at all elevations now have a thin surface crust (~1 cm thick) making for tricky travel. This weeks storm snow is under the crust and a couple inches deep over stout crusts 2-3 inches thick. Due north slopes still held soft dry snow, but crusts reared thier head if you move just a little bit off north. On N slopes, some punchy/trapdoor conditions, and possibility for pushy, heavy sluffs below treeline on north-facing slopes not capped with surface crusts.

Avalanche Description: Observed on Wet Slab avalanche from yesterday (3/11), on steep E facing slope above treeline. Loose Wet activity from earlier in the week visible in steep rock terrain near and atl, even on N aspects (but very rocky terrain).

Date

Location/Path

Elev

Asp

Type

Trig

SizeR

SizeD

2016/03/11 ^†

Berthoud Pass west side

>TL

D1.5