Public Observation: Two pits, one day

Location Name: 
Public Observation: Skookoleel Ridge, southern Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Mon, 12/07/2015 - 12:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

 

We dug two pits, one twenty ft below the cornice on the N side of the ridge, and one in the shelter of the trees on the S side while ascending the skin track. Results were mixed: we had trouble triggering the poor layers in the N side, while the S side broke within the top two layers of storm snow, perhaps 6" total, on both CT11 and ECTP11. We chose to ski the more treed S aspects towards Oz, and didn't see anything like the CT11 we found in our pit. Temps seemed to be rising, and rime moved in later in the day, especially toward the ridge. 

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour