February 22 Crystal BC
2/15/09
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
1649
0
just a quick note to let folks know about the snow out the Crystal backcountry on Sunday. We toured from Boullloin over to Pickhandle. Dug just a hasty pit but did alot of pole poking for weak layers and observed the surface snow bond to the crust below.
North slopes were still holding some decent snow, though temps were warming and affecting snow up to our high point around 6,400 feet. On steeper N facing slopes, the top 8 inches is sloughing and running full slope point release. Lower angle N facing slopes seem to be more stable, with no sloughing observed. Pole penetration on N slopes was down about 12" to the first hard layer, which is fairly strong, but fails with several hard pokes.
E slopes were mostly iced up on the surface and firm beneath, with hardly any pole penetration.
S slopes similar to E faces, but did get some warming by the afternoon.
W slopes seem to have developed a slab with the upper layer, and as temps were warming the upper layer was breaking off easily with ski cuts and ski turns on modertae to steep slopes.
Seems like if we do get some new snow that each aspect will react differently and will have its own unique responses.
North slopes were still holding some decent snow, though temps were warming and affecting snow up to our high point around 6,400 feet. On steeper N facing slopes, the top 8 inches is sloughing and running full slope point release. Lower angle N facing slopes seem to be more stable, with no sloughing observed. Pole penetration on N slopes was down about 12" to the first hard layer, which is fairly strong, but fails with several hard pokes.
E slopes were mostly iced up on the surface and firm beneath, with hardly any pole penetration.
S slopes similar to E faces, but did get some warming by the afternoon.
W slopes seem to have developed a slab with the upper layer, and as temps were warming the upper layer was breaking off easily with ski cuts and ski turns on modertae to steep slopes.
Seems like if we do get some new snow that each aspect will react differently and will have its own unique responses.
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