Mt Elma

Riding quality was:

Terrible

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Hard

We rode:

• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Sunny

Jaunt up Elma to get a sense of snowpack situation prior to the incoming storm. Breakable rain crust covered everything as high as 1400m. A cold night seemed to have developed some near-crust faceting just below this surface layer, so it will be interesting to see how that responds with the new snow load. Presumably it could be a significant hazard, especially where the crust is thin, easily breakable, and not supportive (1300m+ elevation).

Some other layers failed consistently, the most interesting being a ?surface hoar layer down 30. If this is present in other areas as well, that could be one to watch.

A layer below the giant ice crust also failed consistently, but would nearly be impossible to get going in reality due to the bridging effect of 10cm of ice. (see details below)

Skiing was putrid, thanks in part to the soft snow below the crust, alternating with rock-hard frozen tree-bomb debris. I'm happy the goal of the day was met though (sunshine and a wander outdoors).

Test profile at 1400m, NNW aspect at treeline, 25 degree slope

No wind, high overcast, vis unlimited

HS 153cm

Density and layers:

2cm rain crust with some faceting below

150-140cm F

140cm - 1cm thick crust

140-132cm 4F

132cm layer ?SH

132-115cm 4F

115-97cm 1F

97-83cm series of ice crusts

83-70cm 1F

70-0cm Pencil

Column tests x2

CTE 1 down 3 RP on facets below crust

CTE 5 down 10 PC

CTH 21 down 30 RP ?SH

CTH 24 down 82 RP SH 5cm below bottom of big crust

CTE 2 down 3 RP

CTM 20 down 15 PC

CTH 23 down 30 RP SH

CTH 30 down 82 RP SH