Lower Cracked Ice

At cracked ice, we found an additional 20-30cm of storm snow from last night.  The storm slabs that have been building this week are now 50+ cm thick and are resting on top of the weak snow we have been talking about for several weeks. This buried weak snow is under increased stress because of these new snow loads. This was easily noticed with widespread collapses and cracking. We triggered one significant D2 soft slab avalanche that carried a team member for several hundred feet with no burial or injuries. See 1/10/26 avalanche observation for more info.

Storm snow was unconsolidated but easily produced cracking for moderate distances. Collapsing was widespread due to the buried 12/1 rain crust with facets below.

Continued loading of our weak lower snowpack is creating additional stress and instability. Test results from a snowpit dug at 2500 feet included (ECTP1) down 53cm on the 12/1 rain crust and (ECTPV) down 40cm within new storm snow. Persistent weak layers are buried 1-3 feet deep and are becoming reactive with new snow loads. This will continue to be a concern as we receive more snowfall later this week. 

The fact that there has been little natural avalanche activity does not represent a stable snowpack at the moment. The snowpack has entered a dangerous state, where there is not enough stress to create natural avalanches, but avalanches can be easily triggered by a human or snowmachine in terrain over 35 degrees.