Quick report
Surface instability clues were more abundant on slopes that had a stiffened slab from wind effect. However, aspects around the compass failed in snowpack tests on the recently buried Valentine's Day surface hoar. The recent storm snow was dense and heavy.
Shooting cracks on slopes where the wind stiffened the surface.Weather
- Air Temp
- Not Observed.
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- 4,000
- Recent Snowfall
- 15-20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
S-1 snowfall most of the day, with intensity really ramping up around 3 pm. SE/SW winds ramped up around 1 pm, with strong gusts blowing snow and swaying large trees.
Snowpack
The surface hoar that developed just before Valentine's Day and was soon buried was found intact with a 7" slab above. On southerly aspects, it looks like the surface hoar grew on a thin melt freeze crust. On a southwest aspect at 6,100', I noticed the grain size was small (3mm), but the crust added a nice potential bed surface. Test results were CT10RP and ECTN11 on the buried surface hoar.
On a true west aspect at 6,400', I experienced a loud, rumbling collapse. The wind had really picked up, and strong gusts from the southeast were condensing the surface snow into dense slabs. As I moved across the slope, cracks would extend long distances in front of my skis. I dug a pit nearby and found the buried V Day surface hoar to be much larger and again sitting on a thin melt freeze crust. CT3SP and ECTP2 on this layer.
I dug a quick hand pit on a west-northwest aspect, and I easily found large surface hoar below a similarly sized slab that sheared easily.
Avalanche
None observed.