Sunny days make slick crusts

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

By Brigid Mander

Jackson Hole. Wyo.-Big storms continue to visit us and dump snow in our area, resulting in fabulous powder day after powder day - still. New snow is expected just about all week, closing out a wonderful March.

Despite our winter weather, when the sun shines, it gets things cooking quickly and rapidly destroys any powder under its rays. Sunlit aspects continue to crust over and to form smooth sliding surfaces for new snow, and lower elevations have been getting warm enough to see wet slides and point releases.

The new snow has been bonding rather well and fairly quickly, but we observed fractures less than a foot deep on a variety of aspects and elevations after last week’s storms. Despite being relatively shallow, these kinds of releases still range from easily avoidable slough to slabs that will take you for a ride you weren’t counting on.

With the new storms, overall stability will hopefully remain fairly good, with general danger on the lower side. But now is not the time to let down your guard, so keep your eyes open and aware of your aspect and what is below the new snow.  After all, more powder and a long touring season awaits.

PERMALINK:
Sunny days make slick crusts | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column

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