Quick report
- Cracking
- widespread
Skinned into tucks with the intent of checking in on the developing windslabs, and skiing something if conditions permitted. On the approach, it was apparent that slopes were still actively being wind loaded as there was a lot of snow being transported by the winds. Additionally, it was clear that wind slabs were present on everything from chute to right gulley. Boot penetration was to the knee at some points walking through the base of the ravine. Hand shear tests done to the right of lunch rocks between right and lobster claw indicated a stubborn slab on top of the freeze thaw crust from last weekend. Upon digging our snow pit, we found ~23 cm of 1F hard snow on top of 4F hard snow on top of the K hard crust, 45 cm below the surface, snow transitioned to pencil-hard. A compression test resulted in CTM with a fracture (Q3? Image included below) occurring on a layer of facets on top of the crust 23 cm down. A second CTM half a meter to the left, however, did not seem to have any facets above the ice crust, but resulted in a cleaner fracture. An extended column test did not result in propagation (ECTX). Given the large looking wind slabs above us and other observations from this weekend indicating large sensitive slabs in areas, we decided to ski the little head wall out which was pretty full of holes, but made for better skiing than the TRT.
Weather
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Windy, initially in the clouds, clearing by early afternoon