-Clear skies today, calm to light and variable breezes.
-Below freezing temperatures this morning: 26° @ 0800 at Frostbite Station, 31° @ noon.
-Gold Mint lot was above freezing (with ice melting) by 1300.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Two Lakes Basin
We have to admit, we have gotten sucked into the high quality skiing at upper elevations and accordingly our observations have taken us to these choice zones of interest. Forecasters are humans too. Curious about how things are hanging in at mid elevations ski quality wise, we felt compelled to gather some data from the 2,500-3,500′ zone. Headed into the Two Lakes Basin via the Knob to assess snow surfaces and signs and impacts of warming. Today marked the first day of official Spring with totally clear skies.
Weather
Snow surface
Variable snow surfaces observed in this area. On our tour, we experienced a variety of crusts, wind effected snow and slick skin and ski tracks on the approach, soft faceted snow and fully melted ridges with exposed tundra(West Two Lakes North ridge @ 3,000-3,400'). Skiing out of the basin provided some wind packed powder with variable crusts lower down which were zipper crust in feel by creek level. Solar aspects at lower elevations were soft and demonstrating moist-wet characteristics (could make a snowball and squeeze some water out) by 1230.
Snowpack
No signs of instability observed. We did see some old (most likely 3/18) point releases on west facing couloirs in the basin at roughly 3,800' as well as old, buried wind slab debris. Numerous D1 wet loose from the previous day were observed on Idaho Peak and beyond but as we were mostly on north facing terrain, did not get a good observation of today's warming (see Barker/Lewthwaite ob). Cornices are looking large in some areas but we did not see any recent signs of warming, sagging or drooping. On polar aspects, the snowpack remains uniformly faceted via easy pole tests.
Still staying cold and below freezing on our polar aspects. This is keeping our ski quality viable.
Small 1mm facets; the source of our March joy.
Sure is looking spring like on solar or high wind exposed ridgelines. WSW facing, 3000'.
Some cornices above some of the Two Lake Basin couloirs. No signs of instability here.
102cm aka 40" of snow in this area on north facing terrain protected from wind.
Still some soft 6-8" ski penetration powder skiing of facets on north facing terrain. However, conditions are variable as you change aspect and terrain shape.
Some breakable zipper crusts lower down towards 2,500', north facing.
Water is showing but bridges are holding in most places.