04 March 2000, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Snowy Range.  Skied from Green Rock picnic area out
onto the Libby Creek loop in the morning, 38 inches reported at snow stake.
Dug a snowpit and conducted stability tests at the first overlook into
the Libby Creek drainage.  Continued around the loop and back to Green Rock via Barber
Lake Trail.  Skied up the Potholes corridor, north of the Green Rock parking area,
in the afternoon.  Skiing conditions were uniformly hardpacked, with icey, fast tracks
in the shaded areas.  Travel by foot (without skis or snowshoes) would have been possible
over the extent of the route.  My recommendation to the VIS was for "no novice skiers" on
the Libby Creek Loop due to the narrow lower trail and fast conditions.
Met briefly with members of a group celebrating "Norwegian Olympics" at
winter turn-around, Green Rock.  Advised them of need to keep turn-around loop free of
parking.  Assisted skier walking from lower end of Barber Lake Road back to Green Rock.
Observed and reported to VIS individuals operating chainsaw and removing forest products on
north side of Highway 130 just west of Hanging Lake turnout.  
Finished the day at the Snowy Range Ski Area, examined rescue cache contents.

Parking Info:
                   8:30 am Counts                1:30 pm Counts
                 With Trailer   Without        With Trailer    Without
Centennial VIS    0                0            0                1
Barber Lake Rd    0                0            0                0
Corner Mountain   0                0            0                4
Little Laramie    0                1            6                2
Sand Lake Rd      0                0            1                0
Hanging Lake      0                0            0                3
Ski Area & Above  74               16           157              51

Snowpit Data:
  Location -- UTM 13T 0398227E 4577012N (First Libby Creek Overlook)
              East-Southeast Aspect (130 degrees)
              Open slope near top
              9900 ft elevation via baro.
              Slope angle of 25 degrees with inclinometer.
  Ski Penetration ~2cm, Boot Penetration ~5cm (more as sun/heating occurred)
  Air Temp +7C, Total snowpack at pit 104cm (41 inches)
  Light Swirling Winds, Clear Sunny Skies, No precipitation, 9:30 am
  
Snow Pack
  "Height" from ground   Temp.   Description
     (cm)                 (C)
     104                  +1     Hardpack, beginning to melt in sun
                                 K (Knife penetration)
     100                   0
                                 1F consolidated
     97                   -1     
                                 4F rounded crystals
     88
                          -1.5   2F packed powder
     76                   -1.5   ICE Layer
     74
                          -1     4F to Hand, Packed powder
     50
                           0     K, Packed powder
     36                          Thin ice layer
                           0     K, Packed powder
     26
                           0     2F to 4F faceted crystals
      0                    0     Ground
Shovel shear gave relatively easy shear at 100 cm interface, more difficult
shear at top of 76 cm ice layer.  R-block test failed at 100 cm layer after
two hard jumps, no other movement.
The snowpack has appeared to stabilize substantially with moderating daytime
temperatures over the past week.  Two ice layers internally raise some concern,
and the hardpack surface condition is likely to provide a smooth running surface
for any new depositions.

NOTES REGARDING RESCUE CACHE AT SNOWY RANGE SKI AREA:
The rescue/grooming snowmachine had less than 1/2 tank of gasoline in the
shed.  A pair of drive belts, some tools, a tow strap and come-along were in
place under the seat.  A hasp has been placed on the man-door, but a lock was
not yet installed.  The hasp side of the doorframe is damaged, potentially requiring
replacement of the framing member.