Oboe 190312

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Deep powder
• Heavy
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes
• Dense trees
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees
• Steep slopes
• Sunny slopes

We stayed away from:

• Convex slopes

The day was:

• Sunny
• Warm

Avalanche conditions

• 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.
• Rapid temperature rise to near or above 0°C or wet surface snow.

Out two consecutive days in this zone. Winds shifted on Monday night to northerly and reverse loading at ribs and ridge top lee was evident. At treeline ribs, new snow to 60cm boot penetration.

No cracking or whumpfing encountered. Storm snow had obvious bands of wind-affected density right down to treeline and strong winds had created a denser storm accumulation than normal.

Hand sheers in this region produced no easy or moderate sheers. BTL, better ski penetration and less dense snow.

Afternoon solar began to moisten surface snow and tracks began to glaze. Welcome to the critical diurnal range spring cycle. No roller balls in Oboe zone, but any sunny day now...