Catchers Mitt

supportable rain crust at the road with an inch of new snow fairly quickly led to 3-4" of new with a deterioration of the rain crust above 3000'.  New snowfall amounts were variable due to storm wind.  The previous storm from 12/3-6 was also variable in depth due to wind.  This was evident by the depth of the wind damged November layer that in places was only 8" under the surface and in others, sometimes in close proximity was 18-24".  The density changes within the 12/3-6 layer are becoming less prevalent however hand shears still reveal a potential weak layer just above the November wind layer.  Good bonding continues to be observed at this interface.  In this location new snow totals were not enough to put widespread stress on the snowpack.  However wind loaded pockets in specific areas exist on the lee side of wind channeled terrain features and likely the lee side of high elevation ridges.  Snowfall was became light to moderate by the end of the tour.

The upper snowpack was found to be variable due to wind redistribution of recent snowfall and a recent rain crust that varies depending upon elevation.  At the trailhead at 2400' there was a supportable rain crust with 1 inch of new snow from this morning.  At 3000' this rain crust began to be less supportable with 3-4 inches of new dry snow on top.  dry snow above recent rain crust was variable in depth due to wind redistribution.  Above 3500' the rain crust was still present but was almost imperceptible, and will likely become even less pronounced/disapear with a cold clear night.  Hand shear test continue to find good bonding at the late November wind damaged snow with moderate-hard failure at a layer of slightyly less dense snow just above this november wind layer.  A snowpit at 4130' on a SE aspect with a HS of 140cms produced ECTN14 down 15 cms. One point of interest was that in this location the November wind layer was only 1 inch thick and not nearly as strong as in other locations.  Facets mixed with rounds were found below this layer.  However it was unreactive in ECT test. See pit profile on more details of snowpack structure .