Variable Conditions on Tamarack Peak

Uneven, variable, and firm surfaces existed on almost every aspect of Tamarack Peak today. We moved across several aspects trying to see all of the variable conditions. We found wind features, scoured surfaces, and firm crusts on NW-N-NE-E aspects. The extreme NE winds had wreaked havoc on these slopes. At the upper elevations, NE winds continued to blast across the mountains. In areas where terrain features provided some shelter from the NE winds, breakable crusts existed on the northerly aspects. Below these surfaces crusts, a thin layer of weaker snow did exist on the northerly aspects.

After some loud skiing moving across the northerly aspects, we moved onto W aspects. Again we discovered uneven surfaces on the exposed slopes. Once we moved into very sheltered areas on W aspects, we did find some small areas where up to 2 inches of soft new snow existed on a smooth surface. These isolated areas provided short sections of nice conditions. On the way out we moved over to E and SE sun-exposed aspects that were low enough to not be experiencing NE winds today. While the E aspects remained firm and frozen at noon, about 2-3 cm (1 inch) of wet soft corn snow had formed on the surface of the SE aspects at that time. 

In summary, good recreation conditions were hard to find and only existed in small patchy areas. Challenging firm, uneven, variable wind affected conditions were widespread. We did not see any signs of instability or current avalanche problems.