This thesis investigates snow-pack development and frost penetration in the Blackstone Uplands, Y.T. The purpose is to assess the use of an accessible reference site as an index of these conditions throughout the area. The project responds to local interest in improving management of snowmobile access to the region. Sixteen transects were monitored for snow depth in fall and winter 2006-07. Active-layer temperature was monitored by data logger during freeze-up. Below-normal snowfall permitted examination of snow-pack development with marginal conditions for snowmobile traffic. Prior to snow redistribution by wind, snow depth was controlled by elevation and the reference site had more snow than all valley-bottom sites. After the onset [...]
