Ophir Peak

We toured to the edge of the N aspect avalanche paths on Ophir Peak today. Along the way we saw the expected persistent slab snowpack structure in below treeline and near treeline terrain. Indicators of instability were prominent in the snowpit. Indicators of instability observed outside of the snowpit were limited to pole probing and hand pits in the snowpack structure of slab over weak sugary crystals. The snowpack on the flat and N to NE aspect terrain that we traveled was ski supportable, but I sunk to the bottom of the snowpack with my boots when steeping off skis.

Upper half of the snowpack in this area on a N aspect at 9,000' is a bonded slab. This slab sits on top of facets and depth hoar that make up the lower half of the snowpack. I was able to trigger propagation along three different weak layer interfaces in the snowpit.