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Wing Ridge 2/18-2/19/12

Submitted by mhatch on Wed, 2012-02-22 22:56
Type of Report: 
General riding/skiing conditions
Report of NO observed avalanche activity in avalanche terrain
Other information that may be useful to someone
Location: 
Wing Ridge Area
Name: 
Michael Hatch
Type of Reporter: 
WAC Observer
Mode of travel: 
Ski (Mountaineering AT, Tele etc)
Route and Location Detail: 
Level 2 students from Whitman toured on Wing Ridge on 2/18 and 2/19

Location

United States
45° 11' 52.728" N, 117° 5' 40.7868" W
See map: Google Maps
Weather
Sky Conditions: 
Broken (5/8 - 7/8 coverage)
Temperature: 
20
Units: 
F
Wind Speed: 
Light - 1-16 mph. Light to gentle breeze; flags and twigs in motion.
Wind Direction: 
NW
Precipitation: 
Snow
Intensity: 
Light
Additional Weather Information: 
Fairly cool both days with highs in the 20's at 7500'. Had 5cm new on 2/18 and light westerly winds.
New snow / Snow Surface
Snow Depth: 
170
New Snow Depth: 
2
Units: 
CM
Elevation : 
7300
Snow Surface Comments: 
The snow surface was 30cm powder on N-E aspects. On southerly aspects the melt/freeze crust could be felt underneath 15-20cm of new, but the turns were excellent. Not much for wind affected snow off the top of Wing Ridge these days.
photo1: 
Photo 1 Caption: 
Nice turns off NE side of S. Ridge
Photo 2: 
Photo 2 Caption: 
Kirk Bachman visiting from the Sawtooths likes the Wallowa snowpack
Snowpit Diagram: 
Written Report: 

Over several days on Wing Ridge we were able to check out conditons from 6000-8400ft. on NE-E-SE aspects.  We found about 12" of light density powder sitting on some firm wind press at upper elevations and a melt/freeze crust on southerly aspects and slopes below 7000ft.  We did numerous tests (CT,DT,ECT,PST) on a variety of aspects and found little to no reactivity.  Check out the snow profile above.  The new snow just wasn't dense enough to form a slab and the other layers in the snowpack are gaining strength and non-reactive. 

The lack of wind at upper elevations kept the new snow light and fluffy and I would expect that with increased winds, temperatures, and load with this next system we will see pockets of wind slab forming at ridgetops and on crossloaded mid-slope terrain features.  It was nice to enjoy the light fluff while it lasted.