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Location Name: 
Gray Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
2:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
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Snowpack Observations

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Observations from Gray Butte area.

Observed conditions were similar to the last couple of days. Calm, warm weather persisted with a thin layer of clouds covering the sky. Snow surface conditions continue to deteriorate in sun and wind exposed areas. Near treeline, the snow surface is a combination of firm decaying wind board and scoured ice patches, with a crumbly melt freeze surface crust prevalent on solar aspects. Below treeline presented the best options for skiing, where soft snow can still be found in sheltered areas, though becoming increasingly hard to find daily. Poor surface conditions are beginning to make ski touring uphill difficult. Lower terrain has begun to house a fair bit of tree debris.

No signs of avalanche activity were observed.

  • Observation Location: Gray Butte
  • Elevation: 8,000 feet
  • Date: 202302018
  • Time: 1400
  • Observer: S. Clairmont
  • Sky Conditions: Overcast (OVC)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 38 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 123 in (312 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: E
  • Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion

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Location Name: 
Avalanche Gulch
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
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Snowpack Observations

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Observations from Avalanche Gulch up to 9,000 feet.

  • Below treeline, soft snow can still be found in shaded and wind sheltered areas. Exposed areas have a sun crust at the surface. Winds remained calm, temps rose above freezing, and the snow surface became saturated later in the day.
  • Near treeline, snow surface conditions began to turn variable, with large patches of ice and soft snow. 
  • Above treeline, wind effect is more prominent on the surface. Large areas of hollow wind slab followed by scoured ice pellet snow can be found on all aspects. Soft, wind blown snow has settled in gully features, providing the best option for pleasant skiing. Temps above treeline stayed just below freezing, with light winds out of the southeast. 

Overall, climbing conditions were decent, with the firm surface providing good purchase. No signs of avalanche activity were observed.

  • Observation Location: Avalanche Gulch
  • Elevation: 9,000 feet
  • Date: 20230217
  • Time: 1300
  • Observer: S. Clairmont
  • Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 30 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 124 in (315 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: SE
  • Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion

Weather Observations

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Location Name: 
Ash Creek Butte - Surprise Lake
Region: 
East of Mt Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
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Snowpack Observations

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Ash Creek Butte observations taken from Surprise Lake ridgeline (~6,900 feet) and the surrounding area. Most notable observations were of the current wind strength and intensity. Winds strengthened throughout the outing, moderate in the morning, then becoming strong to extreme by noon. Widespread strong winds with extreme gusts made travel difficult near treeline. Wind loading, growing cornices, and scoured windward surfaces could be found in exposed areas below and near treeline. Gale force wind could be seen tearing snow off any terrain feature near and above treeline. Southerly aspects are surely wind loading rapidly. 

Below treeline, surface conditions consisted of a sun crust in sunny exposed areas and smooth soft snow in shaded areas. Surface hoar was found in terrain surrounding Surprise Lake. To our surprise, the road back to Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park was covered in large tree branches and tree debris as we returned.

Except for the new tree debris, the 19 Road is in great shape for snowmobiling currently, especially with the recent grooming. 

  • Observation Location: Ash Creek Butte
  • Elevation: 6,900 feet
  • Date: 20230213
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and E. FAlconer
  • Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 30 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 126 in (320 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: NW
  • Wind Speed: Strong [(S), 26-38 mi/hr, whole trees in motion] to Extreme [(X), > 38 mi/hr, gale force]

Weather Observations

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Location Name: 
Avalanche Gulch and Green Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
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Snowpack Observations

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Observations from Avalanche Gulch and Green Butte ridge between 9am and 12pm. 

Below treeline, three to four inches of new snow was found over a hard crust underneath. Wind was out of the northeast, strengthening with higher elevation. Visibility was clear with few clouds in the sky. Ski quality was best below treeline.

Near and above treeline, winds quickly became strong, with extreme gusts out of the northeast. Extreme down slope winds made it nearly impossible to travel above treeline. Blowing snow could be seen traveling hundreds of feet into the air all across Mount Shasta. Large sections of icy scoured snow surfaces followed by deep wind drifts could be found in abundance. Many leeward terrain features were visibly wind loaded with 12 - 15 inches of transported snow. Visibility was obscured at times due to blowing snow, with the summit fully obscured at all times. 

Lenticular clouds could be seen developing above Mount Shasta, suggesting strong to extreme winds aloft.

No obvious signs of instability were observed today, however, I suspect any leeward slope near and above treeline to be wind loaded. Eric and I stayed off of any south-west facing avalanche terrain. 

  • Observation Location: Green Butte ridge and Avalanche Gulch
  • Elevation: 8,000 feet
  • Date: 20230211
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: S. Clairmont
  • Sky Conditions: Scattered (SCT)
  • Current Precipitation: NO
  • Air Temperature: 31 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 131 in (333 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 3 in (7 cm)
  • Wind Direction: NE
  • Wind Speed: Strong (S), 26-38 mi/hr, whole trees in motion

Weather Observations

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Location Name: 
Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
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Snowpack Observations

Details

With some weather expected overnight through tomorrow, Nick and I chose to assess the Old Ski Bowl for current surface and wind conditions.

  • Below and near treeline, wind was light to calm with no wind effect on the surface. Surprisingly soft snow could be found in the trees, while open areas had a surface sun crust.
  • Above treeline, surface conditions were expectedly variable. Large sections of ice, sastrugi, and wind deposited snow could be found across the upper Old Ski Bowl. Snowmobile penetration ranged from 4 inches of wind effected snow to no penetration on ice. Wind was light out of the south. 
  • Visibility changed quickly during the day. Clouds passed through, obscuring any visibility in the Old Ski Bowl, and later clearing to blue skys with excellent visibility of the upper mountain.
  • Clouds could be seen developing to the west, with some possible precipitation over the Eddy Mountains. 

No signs of snowpack instability were observed.

  • Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl
  • Elevation: 9,000 feet
  • Date: 20230210
  • Time: 1300
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Broken (BKN)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 23 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Snowmobile penetration = 0 - 4 in (0 - 10 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 129 in (328 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: SE
  • Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
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Snowpack Observations

Details

After the companion rescue clinic, Eric and I went to the Old Ski Bowl to assess the new snow that had fallen overnight. We were surprised to find more snow than expected at and above Bunny Flat. The Old Ski Bowl had new snow accumulation of eight to ten inches, with light to moderate westerly winds. No wind effect was found within the bowl, but ridgelines still showed moderately sized wind drifts, cornice growth, and wind scouring. Near treeline, slight settling of the snowpack was felt under skis while touring up a southeast facing knoll. Near and above treeline, shallow, isolated wind slabs along exposed ridgelines could be triggered with skis. Visibility was initially poor, with snow still falling up to 1 pm. Snow stopped falling, visibility cleared, and blue sky popped out after 1pm. Some surface warming could be seen on the way down (below treeline) in the form of roller balls. 

No significant avalanches were observed today. 

Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl

  • Elevation: 9,000 feet
  • Date: 20230205
  • Time: 1300
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and E. Falconer
  • Sky Conditions: Broken (BKN)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S-1
  • Air Temperature: 22 °F
  • Sled Penetration = 8 in (20 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 135 in (343 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 8 in (20 cm)
  • Wind Direction: W
  • Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion

Weather Observations

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