Jan 20, 2007; Snoqualmie Mtn
1/20/07
WA Snoqualmie Pass
2628
2
Departing the Alpental parking lot just before 7 am, Ben and I set off for a fantastic powder breakfast. We broke trail up a forested route on the southern side of Snoqualmie Mountain (west of the Phantom) sticking to sub-ridge tops and the lowest angle slopes we could find. We were occasionally serenaded during our ascent by avy bombs blasting from across the valley at the Alp.
About 6 inches of low density new snowfall overlayed a thin freezing rain crust on the lower slopes (less snow over that crust in the denser parts of the forest), but that crust seemed to fade-out around 4,500-ft. A couple of snow pits in open areas of the forest on the way up revealed a similar general snowpack structure as reported recently on NWAC. Faceted crusts were noted around 15" deep and at about 25" deep (in the open forest test pits). Compression tests yielded widely variable results on the shallower faceted crust between snow pits at ~4,200-ft and ~4,400-ft, respectively.
We later found an ideal small test slope at about 4,600 ft in a small opening in the forest (convex roll over to about a 40 degree pitch) which was easily intentionally triggered when ski cut (slab about 10 inches thick and about 20 feet wide, apparently running on facets of the Jan. 9-10 crust). Rapid fracture propagation, slightly above the ski cut, was noted extending another 30 feet or so beyond a sidewall of the small slide.
We continued to stick to low angle slopes in the forest and eventually through a glade to around 5,200-ft where we stopped as the open and steeper slopes above werent inviting with the current seemingly sketchy snow stability. After taking in some limited views, we were treated to our powder breakfast: light and fast fluffy snow! It was so awful that we couldnt wait for seconds ;D We re-skinned the upper 800 feet or so of our route for an excellent round 2 and continued the descent back to the parking lot. Aside from 1 other skier and his dog, we had the slope to ourselves until we reached the low-down cliff section in the trees where were encountered gaggles of snowshoers. An excellent morning out in the Alpental valley!
Edited to add link to
About 6 inches of low density new snowfall overlayed a thin freezing rain crust on the lower slopes (less snow over that crust in the denser parts of the forest), but that crust seemed to fade-out around 4,500-ft. A couple of snow pits in open areas of the forest on the way up revealed a similar general snowpack structure as reported recently on NWAC. Faceted crusts were noted around 15" deep and at about 25" deep (in the open forest test pits). Compression tests yielded widely variable results on the shallower faceted crust between snow pits at ~4,200-ft and ~4,400-ft, respectively.
We later found an ideal small test slope at about 4,600 ft in a small opening in the forest (convex roll over to about a 40 degree pitch) which was easily intentionally triggered when ski cut (slab about 10 inches thick and about 20 feet wide, apparently running on facets of the Jan. 9-10 crust). Rapid fracture propagation, slightly above the ski cut, was noted extending another 30 feet or so beyond a sidewall of the small slide.
We continued to stick to low angle slopes in the forest and eventually through a glade to around 5,200-ft where we stopped as the open and steeper slopes above werent inviting with the current seemingly sketchy snow stability. After taking in some limited views, we were treated to our powder breakfast: light and fast fluffy snow! It was so awful that we couldnt wait for seconds ;D We re-skinned the upper 800 feet or so of our route for an excellent round 2 and continued the descent back to the parking lot. Aside from 1 other skier and his dog, we had the slope to ourselves until we reached the low-down cliff section in the trees where were encountered gaggles of snowshoers. An excellent morning out in the Alpental valley!
Edited to add link to
Similar Snow Test Results at Heather Ridge on North Facing slope. Test RBlock was on a 35 Degree Slope. First layer of more than a foot or more slide at RB2. Lower crust layer about 2 feet down, slide at RB6. Stayed in the trees all day. With Mini slides going off pretty much all around.
is there a person under that powder cloud?? geez, talk about face shots!! ;D
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