Sunny day on Mt Shasta

Eric and I returned today to Bunny Flat and Old Ski Bowl to continue assessing snow surface conditions. We approached via the 31 road and the power lines. Snow quality is rapidly deteriorating on all southerly aspects of Mt Shasta. The 31 road is beginning to develop long sections of bare dirt. The power line route up to Bunny Flat and Old Ski Bowl is heavily tracked out, leaving tough riding conditions. I suspect these riding conditions will not improve until more snow arrives. In the morning, the snow surface was firm with a sun crust on all terrain below, near, and above treeline. In the afternoon, snow became soft and wet, beginning to clump up. 

The northwest face of Gray Butte, was in similar poor condition. The surface appeared firm and wind effected, with faint rain runnels running the entire slope.

No signs of snowpack instability were observed today. Although, with the continued warm weather and increasing saturation of the upper snowpack, I suspect wet instability will rise.

In other news, it appeared that the blower on Everitt Memorial Highway was getting closer to Bunny Flat, yay!

• Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl and Gray Butte area
• Elevation: 7,500 feet
• Date: 20230124
• Time: 1300
• Observer: S. Clairmont and E. Falconer
• Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR)
• Current Precipitation: Type - NO
• Air Temperature: 37 °F
• 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0 in (0 cm)
• Wind Direction: S
• Wind Speed: Calm (C), 0 mi/hr | Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion