Snowpack

Observation: Soapstone

DavisUintas
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Aspect
Northeast
Red Flags
Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
Elevation
2957 m

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p> </p> <p>The same (from Nov and Dec) PWL still exists from the ground to about 35 to 40cm (as seen in the photo below) above ground level and above that was about 80cm of a dense slab with 15cm of loose snow on the surface. I ran a ECT and the results were negative, meaning, after 30 taps on the shovel I was unable to initiate propogation of the slab on this weak layer. I also ran a CT test and received the same results. However, though stubborn and less likely to trigger, if an avalanche is triggered at this layer it will be deep, heavy, and destructive. </p> <p>The only red flag I noticed on our route today was collapsing. Some collapses were violent enough to shake the snow off of small trees. This was most noticeable in areas of fresh untracked snow. This tells me that the snowpack is still adjusting to last weeks storm and had we been on a steep slope greater than 30 degrees we could have possibly triggered a slide.</p>