Why so many runnels in the bowl this season?

[Phishing]

Jong question, but I don't remember as many in previous years. Lots of snow? No refreeze?

[icelanticskier]

lots of snow melting very quickly on steep slope without refreeze over a long period of time with less ski traffic than nearby gullies and the water's gotta go somwhere, down, down, down forming channels, long deep channels for more water to drain down, down, down. not what i consider as good skiing. it happens to some degree every year.
rog

[lacman]

lots of snow melting very quickly on steep slope without refreeze over a long period of time with less ski traffic than nearby gullies and the water's gotta go somwhere, down, down, down forming channels, long deep channels for more water to drain down, down, down. not what i consider as good skiing. it happens to some degree every year.
rog

I agree except I don't think it's necessarily free water...it's the wet sluffing that erodes the surface, which lets the warmth penetrate deeper in that spot so further sluffing can erode even deeper. A self-perpetuating problem. Icelantic's right though, it's the warm days without refreeze that made the difference this year, and it doesn't make for good skiing. Maybe rain this week will wash them away? We'll see.

[PWDR8S]

Let's hope the canvas gets a clean wipe and the runnels flatten or fill in. Too much heat too quickly was this seasons bane.