24-25

Despite a couple of recent observations stating that Bacon Rind could use more snow, we decided to try it. Perhaps we should have listened. Total snow depths ranged from 15 to 24" (39-61 cm in our snowpits), or in shorthand... not enough snow!

We toured up to the top of the Skillet in the northern of the two primary Bacon Rind areas. The thin snowpack was primarily comprised of weak, sugary facets with a thin soft slab (Fist to 4 Finger hardness) on top. In 2/3 of the upper elevation snowpits, there was a layer of feathery surface hoar buried on top of the facets and below the soft slab. Snowpack tests generally indicated instability (ECTPV, ECTP3, ECTP11, and PST 20/100 end).

While we chose not to roll the dice, the slab was thin (7" thick maximum), and we observed indications (slab qualities) that an avalanche most likely would not break widely across a bowl. HOWEVER, similar to what Alex and I saw at Lionhead the day before, it won't take much new or wind-drifted snow to change the equation, driving the avalanche danger up and making avalanches large enough to bury or injure a skier or rider likely. 

For now, it seemed that barely buried logs, stumps, and rocks were the greatest hazard. Once it snows enough to change the skiing quality meaningfully, I will worry about recreating on terrain steeper than 30 degrees due to avalanches. 0.5" of SWE would drastically change the picture. 

image of surface hoar crystals seen in the snowpit wall

We ski toured in Sheep Creek today, north of Cooke City.  Of note, a thin (4mm) rime crust was forming due to the high humidity/ quasi rain.  Remarkably the rime crust skied very well.  Photo: B. Fredlund

We ski toured in Sheep Creek today, north of Cooke City.  Of note, a thin (4mm) rime crust was forming due to the high humidity/ quasi rain.  Remarkably the rime crust skied very well.  

No avalanche activity observed (low vis).  No collapsing nor cracking experienced.  Light winds and mild temps.

Snowpit attached from a 9000', due south aspect, 32 deg slope.  HS 70, ECTP24 at 26.   

Another snowpit 50' away, with the same elevation and aspect, and 33 deg steep, had a similar structure, but resulted in an ECTN28 on the same layer.

Digging snowpit near top of the ramp Dec 22