Snowpack

Sugarloaf N. Face

Joshua McDonaldMaritime
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Quick report

Low avalanche hazard was observed throughout the area. Previous periods of rain/warming and refreezing have left the snowpack capped with a 20cm thick melt-freeze layer. A small amount of new snow on the surface is poorly bonded to this layer but is not deep enough to create an avalanche hazard at the moment. As the new snow gets deeper storm slabs on top of this icy surface may become reactive. Several old rain crusts within the top 120 cm of the snowpack were easily identifiable. There was no reactivity associated with these crusts in pit tests. 

Observed areas showed no signs of instability. Minor amounts of new snow did not create new avalanche hazards.

Weather

Air Temp
27.5
Cloud Cover
overcast
Wind Loading
moderate
Recent Snowfall
15 cm
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Overcast skies with light snowfall and increasing Easterly winds. Snowfall rate less than 1cm/hr.

Snowpack

On the surface, 10-15cm of soft new snow was poorly bonded to a 20cm thick melt-freeze layer. Down to 120cm deep the snowpack consisted of well-bonded layers of consolidated snow with several rain/MF crusts throughout.  Pit tests showed no reactivity.  Snowpack depth was 170cm @ 1200ft.