Hankin Run 8

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Deep powder

We rode:

• Cut blocks
• Mellow slopes
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Convex slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cloudy
• Stormy

Avalanche conditions

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

Great run at Hankin but wild swing in temps (-6C to -3C? around 1 pm. Moderate snowfall (1-3 cm/ hr) transitioned from nice light flakes to fast-moving grouple-like? Pellets resulting in minor 2-3 mm heavier surface layer. Overall great skiing in recent (20 cm ) cold storm snow. Over 180 cm total snow pack at top of tree line.

Regular whumpfing and settlement at or near base of snowpack where 15-40 cm of sugary facets easily settle around tree wells and down-slope pockets below stumps and logs. There is a base but it is sugary and felt hollow over whatever it’s sitting on.

Two notable crusts above sugary base but no consistent reaction with ski cuts. Minor sluffing of storm snow. Winds increasing from the SW by early afternoon. Great ski but a bit spooky!