Public Observation #2023-1156

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Pic is of debris from a large natural, likely size 3ish, slide on the Villard apron on the northeast aspect of N Sister. Probably from the recent high freezing level storm last weekend.

Conditions were variable on E-SE alpine aspects. Below 8k the snowpack is pretty isothermal with a firm, supportable crust that softened by 10am or so. However, there are deep runnels in many spots, likely from heavy rain during the recent storm, that can make it difficult to ski and interfere with what would otherwise be perfect corn skiing. The runnels aren't everywhere and can be avoided if you pick the right slope though, and will hopefully get smoothed out by another day or two of melt freeze.

Above 8k we found a mixture of powder, supportable crust, breakable crust and windboard. Overall the skiing up high wasn't bad, but the conditions up there are still kind of winter-ish. We'll likely need a few more days of shedding and melt freeze until we get good corn up high. Especially on more northerly aspects. Didn't notice any signs of instability, although we made sure to be off steep alpine slopes by 10am due to concerns about shedding.