Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- widespread
Our group traveled today from 3,000-8,000' and observed all aspects. Numerous size 1 and 2 natural avalanches were observed failing on a weak interface between the storm snow that fell during 1/5-1/12. The weak interface we found was facets on top of a crust. Our group dug many snowpits and observed some Sudden Planar or Sudden Collapse results in our Compression tests. Yesterday we performed a Propagation Saw Test and had full propagation at 40/100 END. This test was performed on the weak faceted snow above a crust that formed in early January, which seems to have been the culprit for all of the natural avalanches observed.
We felt collapses in the snowpack on a variety of aspects and elevations from 6,000' up to 8,000'.Snowpack
Poor structure was found in numerous snow pits during our two field days of our AIARE 2 Moto Course. We dug on a variety of aspects from East to North to South between 6,000' to 7,200' and found weak sugary snow around crusts in all of these pits. Most of the time while stopping to regroup and dig we would feel a whumph.