Snowpack

Armstrong Meadow

Tasha ThomasCentral Sierra Nevada
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Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3Observation photo 4Observation photo 5

Quick report

No signs of avalanches. Snowpit test results did gain more clarification on persistent slab problem in the forecast due to the old weak facets near several crusts. Snow was very supportable in lower angle terrain on North and Northeast aspects. No signs of instability while riding. Side-hills on test slopes did not yield any results in instabilities either.

Weather

Air Temp
31
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
None
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

The day began cold and temperatures remained in the upper 20's throughout the day on shaded slopes.

Snowpack

Dug a snowpit at 8,700' on a NE aspect. HS 129cm. The storm snow from the weather event a few days ago has remained cold and made for some great snowmobiling today. The top 30cm of the snowpack was fist hard and gaining strength 10cm above the raincrust from last weekend's rain event. Shovel Tilt test fractured with planar results on the second tap. I found similar results when touring in the Carson Pass zone yesterday. I performed two more formal test and did get both sudden planar and sudden collapse results. CT12 SP @112, CT23 SC @89 and ECTP27 @72. The facets below a thick crust collapsed across the entire length of the extended column.