Quick report
On a northern aspect near Vagner Lake at 10650’, we observed three distinct layers in the snow pack. The upper third of the snow pack is a result of the January storms that consist of soft non-cohesive snow. Just underneath that top layer, we have our Christmas crust that is being very stubborn with little reaction right now. The lower third of the snowpack also has very soft non-cohesive layers that sit on top of a frozen ground layer of junk snow. With incoming storms this next week, we will want to keep our eye on that upper third of the snowpack as new snow Weight and possible wind loading will add to potential problems above the Christmas crust. We did see some reaction near the ground layer that should give caution when riding slopes above 30° on northern aspects at and above tree line. It is possible to trigger a deep step down avalanche. As always, give caution to slopes greater than 30°, terrain traps, and slopes above your riding group.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- light
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Snowpack
A couple of tests were performed in our snow pit today on a northern aspect near Vagner Lake at 10,650 feet of elevation in the snowies . We observed three distinct layers in the snow pack (January slab, Christmas crust layer, and a non-cohesive snow layer above the frozen depth hoar near the ground). No reactions were seen with the extended column test (ECTX), again showing the stubbornness in the upper third of the snowpack as well as our Christmas crust layer in the middle. The propagation saw test did however show some reaction near the ground level resulting in PST 56/120 END.