Hudson Bay Mountain

Is this a point observation or a summary of your day?

Summary

Elevation above sea level

1,500m

Elevation band

• Alpine
• Below treeline
• Treeline

Snowpack depth

30cm

Did you observe whumpfing?

No

Did you observe cracking?

No

Surface conditions

• Crust
• Surface hoar
• Variable

A few basic observations during a fitness snowshoe from the cabin runs to Simpsons gulch to Chair and down Footloose. Was able to directly observe 1400m T-line to 1600m lower alpine on some S, N and E aspect and from a distance alpine N, S, E aspect. I estimate ~30cm is representative of Tline undisturbed HS. This HS held down to 1100m on an east aspect ski run where there was a rapid drop in HS to 2cm by 1000m. The generic snow profile at Tline and lower alpine is 2 buried pencil hard rain crusts at ~10cm (~Oct 26) and ~20cm (Nov 2 rain/inversion) with the crust grains showing pronounced faceting. Between each of these layers was fist hard heavily faceted rounds, with the bottom 10cm starting to show depth hoar development. The recent Nov 4/5 snowfall is also fist density and heavily faceted with extensive surface hoar development up to 1cm from clear sky periods that started around Nov 6th.

Wind events following each of the major snowfalls that occurred on ~Oct 15-25 and Oct 28, plus the two rain and inversion events have led to extreme variability in actual snow depth, snow layering and surface condition by aspect and wind exposure. South and west winds are evident with considerable stripping of those aspects, but I did observe some NE outflow at ridge top blowing snow earlier this week too. Many exposed areas are stripped to ground, with micro lee and cross loaded features up to 50cm depth of hard and soft slab. The upper crust is generally supportive of snowshoes, but not foot. 1st hand reports shared with me today of small loose snow slides stepping down into slabs on steep lee E aspect features at Crater lake.