Elk Mountain

<p>The persistent weak layers in the snowpack are increasingly easier to trigger. Top 5cm of the snowpack at 1250M of elevation is becoming quite wet as a result of high freezing level. Tree bombs were occurring at noon at 1250M of elevation. At 800M of elevation the precipitation has come down as snow and the upper 30cm of the snowpack is extremely wet and heavy. Visibility was limited so it was difficult to make any observations in terms of seeing avalanche activity. Today’s results were CTM 5 down 30 on Surface Hoar, CTH 1 down 50 SP on Surface Hoar and CTH 1 down 80cm SP on facet crust interface. Extended column test provided no results (ECTX) however a minimal amount of pressure as a shovel shear test initiated the entire extended column down 80cm . Expecting these layers to increase their reactivity over this next week with the major warming air temperatures. This snowpack is still nice and cold and had preserved Persistent Weak Layers which should begin a natural avalanche cycle as we move into a double digit warming phase at treeline and potentially into the Alpine for the first time since January. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Convex slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

Snow Conditions

Heavy, Wet.

Weather Conditions

Wet, Warm.