Quick report
- Collapsing
- isolated
This observation was made as part of a motorized AIARE 2 course. 6 pits were dug and all pits showed signs of the persistent weak layer confirming that it's widespread. Observed whumpfing from boot penetrations at 8700' and 9300'. We were a group of 12 in close proximity to each other digging snowpits at both locations.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 23
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 4
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Teens to low 20's, SW winds, snowing. Signs of wind scouring at higher elevations.
Snowpack
Dug a pit on a SSE aspect at 9300' to ~150cm in a 260cm snowpack. Observed fist hard snow for the first 45cm, 4 finger hardness to 85cm, 3cm melt freeze layer at 85cm, 1 finger hardness faceted snow below this layer. A shovel shear test showed weak layers at 45cm and 85cm. Performed an ECT and observed settling at 45cm after 9 taps but it did not extend past the width of the shovel and was deemed ECTx. We performed a cross slope PST and observed 35/100 END down 85.