Gray Butte

DATE: March 14nd, 2020 (20200314) 0930 to 1430 hours

OBSERVER: R Sorenson

LOCATION: Southside Mt Shasta, below/near/above treeline

SKY CONDITION: Mostly cloudy - clouds would move in and out - 75 to 100% sky coverage average 

PRECIPITATION TYPE/RATE: Sporadic very light to light snowfall, S-1 with periods of S1. Graupel forms observed at 8,000 feet 

BLOWING SNOW: yes, moderate blowing snow. South-westerly wind loading easterly aspects. 

AIR TEMPERATURE: 17 deg F average 8,000 feet

SURFACE PENETRABILITY: Ski 0-1 inch, Boot 1-2 inches 

HEIGHT OF SNOWPACK (HS): Below treeline 6,800 feet: 45 inches (115 cm) 

HEIGHT OF NEW SNOW (HN): 1 inch

WIND: Southwest- Avg: 16 mi/hr -- Max: 23 mi/hr -- Moderate to fresh breeze conditions above treeline. Light winds near and below treeline.

Sporadic snow flurries moved in and out on a tour up Gray butte yesterday. We were met by challenging skinning and skiing conditions, as no surface softening occurred.  One inch of fresh snow covered the icy and well-consolidated snowpack below.  South facing tree wells have melted out. Tree debris has littered the snow surfaces along with rocks and logs that had previously melted out. Notable blowing snow and small wind drifts up to 6 inches deep were observed on the ridge near the summit. We encountered a few large dirt patches on the way back to the ski park and were forced to walk for a few hundred feet before making it back to the runs.