Quick report
Traveled into the Apgar's today to check in on the 12/7 PWL, and to gather more information about its distribution. • 12/7 PWL present between ~5000' and ~5900' on NE facing slopes. ~5900' was our days high point. - We did not take the time to search for the 12/7 PWL at any elevations below 5000', so it remains possible that it might be found in open areas below that elevation. - Much of the 12/7 surface hoar is suspected to have been eliminated prior to burial at lower elevations, due to the warm storm that impacted our region on 12/7-12/8. • We conducted three Long Column Tests and one Propagation Saw Test. - Our ECTs failed on the 12/7 PWL, so we targeted this same layer for our PST. - All stability test yielded non propagating results for the time being, as the slab remains soft and mostly unconsolidated in the areas that we traveled today. • We opted to still exercise conservative travel given the poor structure that was evident. That and our worries concerning areas where the slab might surprise us by being slightly stiffer than at our pit site. * Access to this area remains dangerously bad. If you don't believe me, have fun finding out. I won't be returning unless Santa puts another 2 feet of snow in the stocking this year. No signs of instability observed.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 21
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 3
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Overcast skies with a trace amount of new snow fallen throughout the day. About 3cm new snow estimated in the last 24 hours. Winds were very calm until about 2:30-3:00pm, when they picked up to light out of the SW.
Snowpack
Full pit profile at ~5800 on NE facing. (detailed pit graph attached) • HS 108cm • 12/7 PWL 26cm below the surface (~10"). Rounding Surface Hoar (pictures attaches) • AR crust 48cm below the surface (~19") and capped by a thin layer of 2mm facets • ECTN19, ECTN22, and ECTN18. All on the 12/7 PWL • PST 37/100 (SF) @ the 12/7 PWL Quick Hand Pit dug at the transition point below our ski run. (5000' NE) •12/7 PWL (SH) present ~9" below the surface. Picture attached.