Nov 20, 2011, Jove Pk 6007' west slope-south slope
11/20/11
3301
5
The approach:
Up a packed Smithbrook Road to the Smithbrook Trail to Union Gap. Then we traversed the long way around the SW rib of Union Peak, turning north toward Lake Janus. Snow was great and light with about 6 to 8 inches of ski penetration on a firm crust. Finding the PCT, and staying on it, was key or we would have went no where today in brush and logs. Then we climbed the west/southwest slope of Jove to the summit.
The ski:
We found 6 to 12 inches of incredibly light snow on a firm rain crust, from the mid week rain, on all aspects we skied and on all elevations (at least to 6000 ft). We did not dig because the crust was uniformly supportive and the new on top was cold and uncohesive. Of note, it had about 10mm tall widespread surface hoar. Safe now, but if that surface hoar gets buried it could be a concern. Also, with the shallow snowpack and deep cold temps, I wonder if some faceting will develop on the underside (or topside?) of the crust. I am thinking a bit of warm rain might not be a bad idea this week.
First run was the great west slope, fine turns in light snow without scraping the crust. Finding our skin track we returned to the top.
On our second run we wanted to try the south slope. It had no visible signs of wind transport but we didn't know about sun effect (the downside of not approaching via the aspect one wants to ski). We opted to play it safer by making a few turns to test the snow quality and stability, and then traverse to the east ridge, and repeat for a bit. This was great, finding a bit of thin sun crust that the skis cut easily through. Then we went fall line along the skiers left (east edge) of the big open slope. After 500 vert. the crust all but disappeared under the shelter of the 5500 foot fog/cloud layer. The snow just got better and deeper as we descended for a great second run.
The exit:
Argh, after fun downhill touring below the south slope, it was time to climb the long, long gentle gradient of the Rainy Pass road up to the Pass. Stripping 'em for the exit out Smithbrook, we were delighted to find one more great run of light snow on the open slope below the upper road to the lower road and out!
Up a packed Smithbrook Road to the Smithbrook Trail to Union Gap. Then we traversed the long way around the SW rib of Union Peak, turning north toward Lake Janus. Snow was great and light with about 6 to 8 inches of ski penetration on a firm crust. Finding the PCT, and staying on it, was key or we would have went no where today in brush and logs. Then we climbed the west/southwest slope of Jove to the summit.
The ski:
We found 6 to 12 inches of incredibly light snow on a firm rain crust, from the mid week rain, on all aspects we skied and on all elevations (at least to 6000 ft). We did not dig because the crust was uniformly supportive and the new on top was cold and uncohesive. Of note, it had about 10mm tall widespread surface hoar. Safe now, but if that surface hoar gets buried it could be a concern. Also, with the shallow snowpack and deep cold temps, I wonder if some faceting will develop on the underside (or topside?) of the crust. I am thinking a bit of warm rain might not be a bad idea this week.
First run was the great west slope, fine turns in light snow without scraping the crust. Finding our skin track we returned to the top.
On our second run we wanted to try the south slope. It had no visible signs of wind transport but we didn't know about sun effect (the downside of not approaching via the aspect one wants to ski). We opted to play it safer by making a few turns to test the snow quality and stability, and then traverse to the east ridge, and repeat for a bit. This was great, finding a bit of thin sun crust that the skis cut easily through. Then we went fall line along the skiers left (east edge) of the big open slope. After 500 vert. the crust all but disappeared under the shelter of the 5500 foot fog/cloud layer. The snow just got better and deeper as we descended for a great second run.
The exit:
Argh, after fun downhill touring below the south slope, it was time to climb the long, long gentle gradient of the Rainy Pass road up to the Pass. Stripping 'em for the exit out Smithbrook, we were delighted to find one more great run of light snow on the open slope below the upper road to the lower road and out!
Beautiful John! We have to get out for a tour this season.
John,
Nice work on Jove. We were looking over at it longingly from Stevens yesterday.
Do you remember what elevation the Surface Hoar was at? We were finding large surface hoar on Stevens but it was limited to a small band just above the lower clouds (approximately 5,100'). The classic "ring around the bathtub."
My guess is this surface hoar will just get pushed into the low density snow that it's sitting on, but it would be nice to know how widespread this layer is with the incoming weather.
Thanks,
Jeff
Nice work on Jove. We were looking over at it longingly from Stevens yesterday.
Do you remember what elevation the Surface Hoar was at? We were finding large surface hoar on Stevens but it was limited to a small band just above the lower clouds (approximately 5,100'). The classic "ring around the bathtub."
My guess is this surface hoar will just get pushed into the low density snow that it's sitting on, but it would be nice to know how widespread this layer is with the incoming weather.
Thanks,
Jeff
author=Jeff_Ward link=topic=22410.msg95780#msg95780 date=1321893930]
John,
Nice work on Jove. We were looking over at it longingly from Stevens yesterday.
Do you remember what elevation the Surface Hoar was at? We were finding large surface hoar on Stevens but it was limited to a small band just above the lower clouds (approximately 5,100'). The classic "ring around the bathtub."
My guess is this surface hoar will just get pushed into the low density snow that it's sitting on, but it would be nice to know how widespread this layer is with the incoming weather.
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
it was most developed in the "bathtub ring" but we found fairly uniform coverage from 4500 feet to the top of Jove. You can kinda see it in the lower left corner of pic 1 ~5500 feet. My pics on NW Hikers will show it at 6000 feet beneath where Jake is sanding on the summit. It was even present beneath the open subalpine forest canopy.
John
Wow!
John,
Thanks for the info. Sounds like it was a little more widespread where you were.
Thanks for the info. Sounds like it was a little more widespread where you were.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: