Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Korbinian Thalhammer

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Waterman Ski Area

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20230119

Time
9AM

Road conditions to area
Highway 2 is clear but icy to Waterman. Gated thereafter. 

Temperature
35F

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle

Elevation
6950

Snow depth
14 inches

Boot/ Ski penetration

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description
Crust mostly supported our skis but did crack on our way up and collapsed slightly in a few places on our way down. 

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment

Snow pit and conditions description
 
Snow pit near the base of Waterman. 9am 1/19/21
 
NE aspect
6944’
 
Top
Dust on 2 inch sun crust
2-3 inch 4F sugary layer
0.5-1inch rain crust
1 inch 1F snow
7-8 inches P hard consolidated snow
Ground
 
Above freezing temps
Wind 0-5mph
Clear skies
 
Had decent skiing on shallow snow in the late morning on a S facing aspect near the same elevation. 
 
Had very firm but enjoyable conditions on N/NE aspects in the early afternoon at Waterman. Top melt-freeze crust was cracking a bit on the skin up but only broke through a couple times on the way down.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Snow pit photo