Keeps on going

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

By Brigid Mander

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-It’s the season that just won’t quit. With the snow measurement headed toward 600” we’ve seen nary a slushy day in recent memory. Instead, we have mid-winter powder and winds still ready to hand out frostbite, faceshots and untracked powder.

As far as snow stability goes, we are still dealing with a settled and pretty solid wintry snowpack. The wind continues to rage, so wind loading is an issue, forming slabs up to several feet deep, and large sloughs are still something to watch out for.

Needless to say, we haven’t had to deal much with the usual spring-time snow issues like goo slides and rising snow temperatures much, but that could all change very quickly. High temperatures reaching into the upper 40s are forecast for later this week. If this actually happens, our powder could be rapidly ruined, and it will be time to switch to spring avalanche awareness. The time of day you ski, how sunny the aspect is, how warm the snow is, and whether roller balls and point releases are letting go are just the basic observations needed to stay on the good side of spring snow.


PERMALINK:
Keeps on going | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column

Leave a Comment