Pro Field Report
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 6, 2021Submitted:
December 6, 2021Observer:
SAC - VandenBosZone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsLocation:
Butterfield (6,800-9,600', primarily E-NE-N)Signs of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
Very GoodConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
The extended drought is having its way with the snowpack and it is going to get worse before it gets better. A few days of much colder temperatures later this week will likely accelerate the rate of faceting, particularly in upper layers in the snowpack and adjacent to the widespread crusts.
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
ObscuredWind:
Moderate , NWNew/Recent Snowfall:
traceS-1 precip for a few hours late morning/early afternoon, no real accumulation. Skies began clearing late in the afternoon.
Snowpack Observations
The middle and upper elevation shady snow survey continues! Today I found a weak and uninspiring snowpack. The snowpack on sheltered, shaded aspects of Butterfield is 40-60cm deep and contains several prominent crusts. Between these crusts the snow is faceting significantly, particularly in the upper 10cm of the pack, where the snow between crusts is F to F-. This stack of facets sits on a 1F+ crust, an ugly combination. A second, 10cm thick stack of facets sits underneath this crusts, and is slightly less concerning, but not much.
The extended drought is having its way with the snowpack and it is going to get worse before it gets better. A few days of much colder temperatures later this week will likely accelerate the rate of faceting, particularly in upper layers in the snowpack and adjacent to the widespread crusts. There's a whisper of some big moisture in the longer term forecast, but I'll believe it when I ski it...