Date of Observation: 3/31/22 and 04/01/2022
Name: Zach Kinler
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Lower Grand Traverse route. Deer Cr and West Brush Cr areas. 9,000-9,500′
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: Clear skies led to quick warming on southerly aspects as temps rose above freezing both days. A nice freeze on 3/31 gave way to a very weak freeze on 4/1. NW winds were generally light with an occasional moderate gust in open areas.
Snowpack: Targeting low elevation shoulder aspects on the GT course, I was tracking surface crusts and snowpack structure. Both East and West aspects below 9,500′ in this zone have similar depth and structure. HS was around 70 cm with a fully supportable 6-8″ MFcr forming Wednesday night. Below this crust was moist, large-grain rounds to the ground. By Friday midday on East aspects, the crust was supportive to ski but not to boot. If this crust does not break down today, it will with tomorrow’s warming. This will create a shallow, yet somewhat wet mess on these slopes.
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- West 9,300′ Deer Cr
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- East 9,300′ West Brush Cr
