Good news for early birds

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

By Brigid Mander

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-As of last weekend, spring skiing has finally arrived. The closing of Grand Targhee last week means local lift served skiing is officially over. It is nothing but backcountry now.

Last week saw powder still falling up high and excellent skiing up until the snow turns to glue at the lower elevations. So while the valley enjoys long-lost sunshine and heat, winter continues to hang in there above us.

Predicted weather this week will bring new snow up high, but after the recent heat and sun, it will be falling on suncrusts. Rocky areas are starting to shed nearby snow in large point releases and warm sunlit slopes are very gluey by midday and ready to start moving. The massive cornices will be getting dangerous as well, as they begin to break in the heat.

This week the forecast indicates the snow will freeze each night, giving us the morning window to get things done. If it doesn’t freeze, be aware that the snow rapidly becomes unstable after sunrise. The bottom line, simply, is make sure the snow froze overnight, get it done early and be down before the sun destabilizes the snow.


PERMALINK:
Good news for early birds | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column

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