Chief Joseph Pass

Quick report

Cracking

specific

Collapsing

widespread

Skies were obscured with a fog layer and temps were below freezing at ~22F around 12pm at the pass parking lot. Wind was calm to light, no snow was actively being transported. There were signs of recent wind transport from the SW, Anderson Mountain road was completely filled in. In non-wind loaded areas, new snow depth was 4-6" and in wind loaded areas new snow depth varied from 8-12". In the early afternoon, the density of this snow was lighter and got heavier later in the afternoon as temps warmed up.

Weather

Air Temp

22F

Cloud Cover

obscured

Wind Loading

moderate

Recent Snowfall

10-15cm

Snowpack

Dug pits in a few different locations and found varying layers of concern. The first pit was on a SSW slope at 7,299ft where we found a 1-2cm thick layer of weak faceted snow about 25cm from the surface. Total snowpack height was 60cm. Our pit result was an ECTP8 with a sudden collapse with a Q1 shear quality. Second pit was on a N facing slope at 7,354ft. Pit results were a bit more variable here likely due to the location within the trees but were failing at the ground. Total snowpack depth was 70cm and we found depth hoar 60cm from the surface. This did not propagate in our ECT test but resulted in a PST 40/100 end. Final pit was on a W aspect at 7,294ft. Here we found preserved surface hoar about 20cm from the surface 3mm-5mm large, total snowpack depth 65cm. Pit result was an ECTP25 on this layer. The snow above this layer was very low density and produced a very soft slab - the shear quality was a Q1. In this area, we also found cracking of the snowpack later in the afternoon.