Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Observed a thick layer of buried graupel on NE facing slope at 9200' Observed large facet layer on NW aspect at 10,100'</p>
A couple of quick hand pits uncovered a couple of concerning weak layers on both the NE and NW aspects.
I was surprised by how large the graupel layer on the NE aspect was. This being sandwiched between 2 much harder layers made our decision to stay on lower angle terrain on the NE aspect.
I was curious to the amount of facets on the NW aspect since it was almost identical aspect as Birthday Chutes. It had a significant facet layer, but lacked the wind loading to create the hard slab present in Birthday Chutes since this slope was well protected with trees on the top.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The facet layer on the NW aspect was mixed in with grass and shrubs and was the bottom ~6" of the snowpack. Above this layer were 2 slabs of 1F or harder with a very weak (F) layer between them.</p>