Submitted by: JD
| Location: | SF Ski Area |
| Date: | Dec 8, 2009 | Temp (C): | -5? |
| Wind Speed: | NUK | Wind Direction: | WNW |
Dear Santa,
Please give me stability in the snowpack....
Observed widespread settling of the new snow including spontaneous slab releases, skier caused slab-releases, and even about 200 yards of plow-caused release on the roadside. Easter bowl ran down the center chute 40-50' wide with a 12-18" crown, crossing a hikers ski track on the luge. Desperado released "slabs the size of king size beds", with a ski cut. Ivan's had already released prior to arrival.
Needless to say this was a bit ominous. The previous weeks storm (6" of fluff) on top of a fairly well consolidated (but rotting) older layer just couldn't support the "honest foot" of new, wet snow recieved in under 24 hrs.
These observations are mostly from north, northwest, and slightly northeast aspects. Western aspects saw more direct wind, and probably loaded up all those eastern aspects too....
WOW. What a storm cycle!