Variable Conditions on Tamarack Peak

Touring on Tamarack Peak today we found a mix of conditions. Many areas have seen high use, and firm packed snow surfaces existed. In more exposed areas wind scoured surfaces and wind-packed crusts had formed. As we moved from more exposed to more sheltered areas we found some breakable crusts and a few patches of cold of surface snow. On the more sunny slopes, the surface snow was warm, wet, and sticky. We also encountered numerous rocks and added several new "speed grooves" to the bottom of our skis.

We probed around in the snowpack and dug into it. We also dug a full snowpit. We wanted to monitor how the snowpack is changing during this dry spell. Similar to other areas around the forecast zone, we saw that the snowpack is continuing to facet (weaken).