Submitted by: Tim Whalen
| Location: | Ski Santa Fe |
| Date: | Dec 7, 2009 | Temp (C): | -10 |
| Wind Speed: | 20 | Wind Direction: | sw |
I am visiting from Colorado and made these informal observations while poking around the ski area December 7th and 8th.
On the 7th saw evidence of a slide of I estimate a top layer of 20-30 cm.
This was between two trails on the upper mountain in a 30 plus degree slo
pe with many rocks poking out of the thin snow pack.
I estimate maybe 30 meters wide, appeared to be natural, and left fist sized
blocks of snow along the top half of this slope.
Skiing off the edge of the trails into the woods twice produced cracks
that propagated for 5 meters or so.
Today on a relatively flat part on Parachute (100 meters above the end of
the heavier treed area) I felt 3 or 4 meter square pieces of the
hard surface layer collapse as I skied out onto the soft snow from
the cat packed trail. My conclusion is that right now at least this
recent 30 cm or so of snow is a pretty unstable foundation for any more
snow that comes along before it consolidates. temps, wind speed and direction
for the 7th are guestimates. It was 9 degrees F in the parking lot
at 1030 7 Dec and obvious below zero F windchill at top of lift.
Wind while skinning up Parachute was from my right. Sunny, calm and at least
10 F warmer this am.