Quick report
Showing graupel from ground level. In a NW facing quick pit at about 25 degrees on my way up Great Western at Brighton at just above base elevation of 8,800.
Pit dug on a SW facing slope at 35 degrees. Observed the same transition from graupel to 'right side up' storm snow as mentioned previously. On shear the column broke at the graupel layer (to the ground), but no earlier. Elevation would be just below 9500.
I dug a number of small hand pits and quick shovel pits on the way up from the base and observed similar results.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>Not observed at elevation / aspect I traveled on.</p> <p>Not observed at elevation / aspect I traveled on.</p>
About 1.5in of graupel from the ground up. Graupel felt damp closest to the ground and lighter and larger in size as you moved up within the initial layer. A very slight crust appeared after the graupel layer and immediately after this crust the 'right side up' snow began. Moderate density on the bottom to extremely light, low density snow at the very top. Top five inches felt like true Utah powder, low moisture and easy to move.