Yellowstone Ski Tours

Surface hoar was abundant on the snow surface in the lower elevations, but I wasn't finding it in the north bowl/ sub alpine. There in the sub alpine, the snow surfaces had widespread, but minor, wind effect. Very thin snowcover on the approach route. So much so that I walked down (rather than skied), from the elevations of about 8200'-7500'.

Snowpit location was almost a due south, but also in a location that was partially shaded by some old growth whitebark pine trees. Some surface hoar observed today in upper Sheep Creek, though not quite as abundant as in upper Pebble Creek the day before (about 1km away as the crow flies to the west). Slightly more surface wind effect in upper Sheep Creek.

Surface hoar from last night was widespread in upper Pebble Creek. Also, it didn't appear to be warm enough in the sun today on mid and upper elevation westerly aspects to be melting the surface hoar.

Adjacent snowpit, 30' away, was 20cms deeper and had a similar structure and ECT results.

Very thin snow cover below 8500'.

Very thin snow cover below 8500'.

We intended to cross bowl and continue to ridge line. Based on snow pit results, and collapsing in the flats on the way in, we decided not to continue our intended route. We pulled skins and skied the 25° below us.

Very thin snow cover until about 8100'.