Public Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

I skied into the Nambe bowl on 2/18 on a north aspect. There was a very hard windslab at higher elevations on the north aspect, difficult to even bootback in. Approaching the apron, conditions improved. There is a layer of cold snow (estimated 30 cm) from the past several weeks of small storms over a rotten faceted layer (estimated 50 cm). On more solar aspects, there is a thin melt-freeze crust between the facet layer and cold snow. I didn't see any signs of instability, but this is a very poor structure. It snowed several inches during the day with northerly winds.