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Green Butte Ridge / Old Ski Bowl

Location Name: 
Green Butte Ridge / Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 12/21/2022 - 1:30pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 23' 1.4964" N, 122° 12' 28.9584" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

A wide-ranging snowmobile tour from Bunny Flat to 10,000 feet on Green Butte Ridge (Wilderness/OSV boundary) and Gray Butte area. It's a smorgasbord of surface conditions out there. Shady, protected northerly aspects hold soft snow. Easterly aspects are a mix of crusts and soft snow. Souths and wests are crusted and heavily wind affected. Strong wind out of the west/northwest was prevalent above treeline and especially on the upper mountain. Wind blowing snow was active, but leeward slopes did not observe much wind slab build-up. 

A cloud and fog deck dominated at 6,000 to 7,000 foot elevation. Clear, blue skies were above.

A pit was dug on a leeward wind slab, southeast facing, above treeline, ~9,800 feet. Weak, sugary snow still exists at the base of the snowpack, but we have not seen an avalanche fail on this layer. A weak layer ~8 inches down from the surface was observed during compression and extended column tests. The low density layer of snow fractured (Q2) with moderate force (10-20 taps from elbow). A wind slab avalanche on a slope scale is unlikely with this weak layer.

  • Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl / Green Butte Ridge / Gray Butte
  • Elevation: 6,950 feet to 10,000 feet
  • Date: Winter Solstice 12.21.22
  • Time: 1000 to 1430 hours
  • Observer: N Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR) 
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO 
  • Air Temperature: 37 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Variable, boot pen: 5-15 inches
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 52 inches
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0
  • Wind Direction: W | NW
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr with strong gusts (S), 26-38 mi/hr
  • Stability Tests: CT12↓20cm / ECTN13↓20cm - Shear quality: Q2

Photos

  • 10k ft on Green Butte Ridge
  • Old snowmobile tracks eroded by wind, Old Ski Bowl, ~9,500 feet
  • Wind affect in Old Ski Bowl
  • Wind affect in Old Ski Bowl
  • Wild sastrugi features
  • Green Butte Ridge and lower Avalanche Gulch
  • Old Ski Bowl
  • 10k ft on Green Butte Ridge
  • Snow pit, 9,800 ft, SE, 28 deg slope above treeline
  • Snow pit, 9,800 ft, SE, 28 deg slope above treeline
  • Green Butte proper and wind affect
  • East side of Mt Shasta
  • Moderate failures in column tests ~20cm down from surface

Videos

Weather Observations

Details

  • Cloud deck 6,000 to 7,000 feet
  • Clear skies above
  • Temps above freezing
  • Strong W/NW wind transporting snow above treeline

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Wind Direction: 
West