Observation: White Pine

A snowpit on a northwest aspect at 9,160' showed a height of snow of 7" (210cm). The dirt crust from early March was now buried under 30" of settled snow and was reactive with propagation in one of my extended column tests (ECTP29@132). 2 other extended column tests had no results on this layer (ECTXx2). I also found the graupel (dirty) that fell in February and was still intact in this snowpit. It was starting to bond, but once broken apart poured out of the snowpit wall. Graupel is categorized as a new snow grain, however it does not bond well to itself and is often impressive in snowpits as it tends to pool and act like ball bearings. Graupel will often hold a ball bearing shape long after we've stopped seeing avalanches and snowpit results. Read more about an avalanche cycle involving graupel in Tahoe HERE.

Photo showing failure under the dirt crust- but not until a hard shovel shear after getting ECTX results.

Photo showing intact graupel 3' from the ground.

Snow on the northerly facing slopes was damp powder conditions and east and west facing slopes were a breakable damp crust.  When the sun popped out it heated all snow surfaces below 8,300' and there were small skier triggered roller-balls on steep north facing terrain.