Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Snowpack: We dug 4 test pits at 6900' on a NNE aspect near top of Baird Glades (20 deg slope), just further north and out of way of common ski lines. Objective: practice performing stability tests. ECTN x 4. In at least two tests we noted a fracture propagating diagonally down to a lower layer (from 33 to 47 down) though it did not propagate to the middle or beyond the column (hence ECTN). ECTN 17 (down 13), 25 (down 33). CT12 (down 13, Q2/RP), 24 (down 33 Q2/RP). Weather obs: we experienced windy conditions with strong gusts at Salt Cr Summit and up to 7000', and could see ample wind-transported snow, whipping at ridge lines, plumes of snow drifting into the air. It was sunny, with temps notably warmer at lower elevations. Stability: On Saturday, we experienced cracking snow on obvious wind slabs near top of Baird Glades and White Bark Ridge (NNE-NE aspects 6900-8200' where not sheltered from winded). We avoided avalanche terrain but found good skiing in low angle terrain below 8000', in less wind-affected snow.