Big Y Report

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Big Y Report

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Good
Snow conditions were:
  • Crusty
  • Hard
  • Powder
  • Wind affected
We rode:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Mellow slopes
We stayed away from:
  • Convex slopes
  • Steep slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Cloudy
  • Sunny

Comments

We travelled up the south arm of the Big Y today and found decent snow in sheltered terrain and a mix of dense wind pressed powder and scoured surfaces in the alpine. Strong south winds on Sunday-Monday have created wind lips and wind formations at treeline and into the alpine, but overall travel conditions are good and we covered some ground. There is more than 2 m of snow above 1600 m, which is great! We put our heads in the snow at around 1650 m and did not find any evidence of the December melt-freeze crust within the top meter of the snowpack. Our test result was ECTN27 down 40 on small, resistant facets above a hard layer that likely formed around the January 10 warm-up.