Elk Mountain

La qualité du hors-piste était:

Excellente

Les conditions de neige étaient :

• Croûtée
• Poudreuse

Nous avons parcouru:

• Blocs de coupe forestière
• Pentes de faible inclinaison

Nous sommes restés à l'écart de:

• Pentes alpines
• Pentes convexes
• Pentes raides

La journée était:

• Ensoleillée

Skied up Elk Mountain logging road to an elevation of 1360 m above a N/NE facing cut block. Skied down mellow cut blocks until an elevation of 900 m and returned via the logging road.

Day started out with heavy wet snow near an elevation of 500m. Weather soon cleared with continued light clouds but generally blue skies. Temperature was ~-2C near treeline. Light, variable winds, some scouring of north facing areas noted. Solar aspects were not explored.

As we climbed the logging road and explored the upper cut blocks the snow was pleasant, light and generally dry. At an elevation of 1100 m a thin wind crust was noted.

We dug a pit at the turn around point in our destination (elevation 1360 m, N/NE facing, slope angle 35, no wind, ~-2, sunny). Total snow depth was 2.6 m. Top 45 cm was fist density with a thin crust half-way through. Then a second crust was noted at 45 cm deep followed by 10 cm of 4F snow. The next crust 55 cm deep was followed by consistent 1F snow for 50 cm. This was followed by a significant 20 cm layer of facets (fist density, unconsolidated sugar). Below the layer of facets the rest of the snow pack was consolidated and dense.

CTE4 down 20 progressive collapse

CTM13 down 35 SC

CTM17 down 50 SC

It is interesting to consider if this deep layer of facets 1m deep has been observed anywhere else on the island and what it may mean as the season progresses.