Square rock drainage (East of Mt. Francis)

The surafce hoar that was buried last week and was producing very unstable test results and significant signs of instability has gone through a major change in the Maritime climate zone.  Warming temperatures has allowed the large surface hoar crystals to round and become a more benign grain type.    Dug multiple pits in elevation bands where the persistent weak layer (buried surface hoar) was believed to be the most significant.  No unstable results were noted, the snowpack is mostly right side up in the mid and upper pack.  Shallow wind slabs in specific locations were the primary concern in areas traveled.    

Weak structure was found at the base of the snowpack, but is unlikely to trigger currently in this location.

Pit results produced:

@1000 Feet: (ECTN12) down 15 cm on recent rain crust

          (ECTN25) down 30cm on 1/26 BSH layer 

(PST60/100 end) down 15cm on crust

(PST33/100 sf)  down 30cm  on 1/26 BSH

(PST77/100 end Dec facets)

@1900 feet: (ECTN14) down 25cm on crust

(ECTN29) down 40cm on 1/26 BSH layer - 2-4mm rounding facetst

@2400 feet: (ECTN6) down 17

(ECTN29) down 48 on 1/26 BSH layer 

(PST 65/100 end) down 50cm

no signs of instability other than a few small shooting cracks in isolated patches of wind slab.

Various temperature/rain crusts exist in the upper snowpack and at the surface below 2000'.   Buried surface hoar was fully decomposed below 2k due to warm temps.

Above 2k surface crust went away and snow became drier.  Buried surface hoar was decomposed.  Poor structure was observed at the base of the snowpack at all elevations travelled.