Feb 26 - 27, Sasse Ridge
2/15/09
1668
1
This report is to put the idea that 'better late than never' to the test. :)
Jane and I went back to Sasse Ridge, usual spot, this Thurs - Friday. It was snowing lightly as we went up, but of course it stopped as soon as we were set up and in the tents. The snow below was not anything to write home about; with a portion between 3800 and perhaps 3400 feet being a breakable crust. It cleared off by evening, and with a cold air mass in place we knew it was going to get cold. That's just what it does there. By morning the low at our campsite was about 5 degrees.
Nonetheless, we started up at around 6 AM, and because I was not completely trusting what my snowpack model was saying, I did not have particularly high hopes. By the 4600 foot 'road bend' things were somewhat better, but by the time we got to the top of the ridge (~5200 ft) we had bright sun and over a foot of unconsolidated. The skiing down to about 4800 feet was, how do they say it, 'like totally dude' or something like that. At 4800 feet, a very slight crust about 2 or 3 inches down began to be a bit noticeable, and by 4600 feet it had turned the skiing back into just plain old backcountry stuff.
So it turned out that the snowpack model was right. See pic 1. It takes a bit of time to learn to read these things - - even if you are interested - - but this chart predicted that crust and where that crust stopped. Thin colored lines mean rain, and angled black bands mean no new.
Unfortunately, there were a few snomo tracks in this voluntary closure area. A few years ago, one of the riders there told me that they don't like the idea, will never abide by it, with the idea that it's voluntary and 'we ain't volunteerin'. I guess that's just the way it is. So pic 2 made me sad. Sad that the tracks continued after the slide.
On a lighter note, once again this year we saw cougar tracks going south. Almost every year I see them going north at the start of the winter, and again south towards spring. Maybe it's Mr. Cougar going to see Mrs. Cougar, whose territory is right adjacent to Suncadia. Well, she was there first, per the GPS collar she wore. But it's great to see these tracks. To know that the area you ski is still somewhat wild.
Larry
Jane and I went back to Sasse Ridge, usual spot, this Thurs - Friday. It was snowing lightly as we went up, but of course it stopped as soon as we were set up and in the tents. The snow below was not anything to write home about; with a portion between 3800 and perhaps 3400 feet being a breakable crust. It cleared off by evening, and with a cold air mass in place we knew it was going to get cold. That's just what it does there. By morning the low at our campsite was about 5 degrees.
Nonetheless, we started up at around 6 AM, and because I was not completely trusting what my snowpack model was saying, I did not have particularly high hopes. By the 4600 foot 'road bend' things were somewhat better, but by the time we got to the top of the ridge (~5200 ft) we had bright sun and over a foot of unconsolidated. The skiing down to about 4800 feet was, how do they say it, 'like totally dude' or something like that. At 4800 feet, a very slight crust about 2 or 3 inches down began to be a bit noticeable, and by 4600 feet it had turned the skiing back into just plain old backcountry stuff.
So it turned out that the snowpack model was right. See pic 1. It takes a bit of time to learn to read these things - - even if you are interested - - but this chart predicted that crust and where that crust stopped. Thin colored lines mean rain, and angled black bands mean no new.
Unfortunately, there were a few snomo tracks in this voluntary closure area. A few years ago, one of the riders there told me that they don't like the idea, will never abide by it, with the idea that it's voluntary and 'we ain't volunteerin'. I guess that's just the way it is. So pic 2 made me sad. Sad that the tracks continued after the slide.
On a lighter note, once again this year we saw cougar tracks going south. Almost every year I see them going north at the start of the winter, and again south towards spring. Maybe it's Mr. Cougar going to see Mrs. Cougar, whose territory is right adjacent to Suncadia. Well, she was there first, per the GPS collar she wore. But it's great to see these tracks. To know that the area you ski is still somewhat wild.
Larry
author=Larry_R link=topic=12491.msg52168#msg52168 date=1235913442]
This report is to put the idea that 'better late than never' to the test. :)
Nonetheless, we started up at around 6 AM, and because I was not completely trusting what my snowpack model was saying, I did not have particularly high hopes. By the 4600 foot 'road bend' things were somewhat better, but by the time we got to the top of the ridge (~5200 ft) we had bright sun and over a foot of unconsolidated. The skiing down to about 4800 feet was, how do they say it, 'like totally dude' or something like that. At 4800 feet, a very slight crust about 2 or 3 inches down began to be a bit noticeable, and by 4600 feet it had turned the skiing back into just plain old backcountry stuff.
So it turned out that the snowpack model was right. See pic 1. It takes a bit of time to learn to read these things - - even if you are interested - - but this chart predicted that crust and where that crust stopped. Thin colored lines mean rain, and angled black bands mean no new.
Unfortunately, there were a few snomo tracks in this voluntary closure area. A few years ago, one of the riders there told me that they don't like the idea, will never abide by it, with the idea that it's voluntary and 'we ain't volunteerin'. I guess that's just the way it is. So pic 2 made me sad. Sad that the tracks continued after the slide.
On a lighter note, once again this year we saw cougar tracks going south. Almost every year I see them going north at the start of the winter, and again south towards spring. Maybe it's Mr. Cougar going to see Mrs. Cougar, whose territory is right adjacent to Suncadia. Well, she was there first, per the GPS collar she wore. But it's great to see these tracks. To know that the area you ski is still somewhat wild.
Larry
Larry, I thought the model was pretty accurate across the valley as well. With the east facing orientation on Red verses west, the solar radiation was advantageous for a change, thickening the crust enough to be supportive. Whereas typically the Sasse side holds the better conditions.
By sad, what are you implying my dear friend???!!!@@##
Glad you had some "like totally, dude" stuff to work with!
I think Mrs. Cougar knows the dinner bells are ringing at Suncadia around 6PM when folks return home from their day and let the pets out!
J
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