Steep Creek:
Sledded and skied to the lake yesterday. Looks like a few have driven right to the lake.
Many natural avalanche deposits, some within the previous 12 hours- to size 3.
We skied to the Col W and above the cabin (and lake) and then down into the next drainage.(5300’-6700’) There is not much snow here, maybe 150cm.
The two things that stood out in regards to stability was: (1) the number of fairly fresh fracture lines with deposits, and (2) how in locations where there was no previous avalanche activity I could quite easily push a ski pole, with big basket, all the way through the snow pack till I hit an icy layer near ground.
A friend who was up in this area on Sunday compared that days warming effect and subsequent avalanches to a wet dog, fresh out of a lake, shaking water off – everything was sliding.
To state the obvious, with a bit more snow, wind and or heating the area will see more avalanche activity particularly on slopes that have not slid yet. Lots of Surface Hoar to 10mm.
Musical Bump:
Was working in here today. Super windy from the NW. Stayed in the trees for comfort and quality. Very good skiing on SE aspect, tree protected, locations. Even NW treed aspects where still skiable, but won’t be soon...
The wind was moving lots of snow. In the lower, more protected areas only very soft slabs formed. I could not ski cut any slabs avalanches, but did make a couple Sz 1 point releases in newly re-deposited snow. I saw no new natural avalanches but I would bet that by tomorrow AM some S aspects in the Alpine and high Treeline will be primed to slide.
I guided clients out the Singing Pass trail on Feb 27th. It was in good shape, but with so little snow. There are two big, mean, nasty ditches near the end of the road just above the Village. They are flagged, but with beer so close it is tempting to forget about speed...
Dave Sarkany
ACMG Ski Guide