Quick report
North winds were actively loading at a rate that was ripe for building wind slabs. Surface conditions were generally wind-scoured from the north wind, crusty, or firm. The coverage looked thick but it was easy to find shallow areas with spatial variability. In these thin areas, depth hoar was at the ground. We found high strength in the upper snowpack over weak layering with facets below. In protected areas, well-preserved stellars and surface hoar were forming. Numerous old avalanche crowns and debris.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 10F
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 2
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Clear day with high clouds that rolled in later. Calm then light-gusting moderate winds that increased in the afternoon. Temperatures were pleasant starting off and then chilly as the winds picked up.
Snowpack
- At 5,500' on a N-NE aspect we targeted a shallow area of the snowpack. Total snow depth below the ridge was 65-150cm.
- On the surface was wind slab over near surface facets. A series of melt-freeze crusts and facets in between. The base consisted of refrozen 4-5mm depth hoar.
- Our layer of concern was buried down 30cm and consisted of 1-2mm advanced facets. A more brittle crust was above this layer.
- Extended column test produced ECTN15 (non-propagating) and the propagation saw test produced PST 30/100 End (propagating) down 30cm.
- Strong temperature gradients were at work promoting faceting.