Quick report
- Cracking
- Observed
Observations from a Totality and Burgundy tour on Saturday before the bulk of the storm comes in. 5" of overnight snow with moderate to strong west winds. We observed a large old avalanche in between Burgundy and the normal return skin track to the ridge between Burgundy and Point 6. We were able to easily ski cut inconsequential new slabs in the storm snow up to 4" deep in wind loaded pockets on South aspects. No collapsing or observed cracking deeper than overnight snow. We dug a North facing pit down to the dry January layer: ECTN8 at 20 cm (recent snow), ECTN18 at about 45 cm (mid storm interface), ECTX on the dry January layer at 60 cm, which was comprised of weak facets. We dug a second pit near the bottom of Burgundy in a shaded pocket. South facing . HS 200 cm. Results were ECTN11 at 20 cm (recent but not overnight snow), ECTP25 on the Dry January layer at 50 cm. The Dry January layer was comprised of a series of three crusts with weak partially frozen snow between the crusts. Failure was in the weak snow between the two crusts and was dirty, but it propogated. We felt comfortable skiing avalanche terrain on Saturday but terrain selection would likely be very different with substantial forecast additional snow.