Connection Cache

With limited visibility into the Ravine, we were unable to observe start zones or the distribution of wind deposited snow in lee terrain. We gathered observations in sheltered areas on the hiking trail that likely is not representative of steeper terrain as that terrain gets far more wind affected. 

However, it does give an idea of distributed snow, and the potential reactivity of softer snow that may be harbored in isolated areas in terrain. The wind drifted snow we encountered ranged from 5 inches to 1.5 ft in depth and the composition was a firmer surface layer (wind skin) with softer snow below. In wind affected terrain we found a hard, scoured, and firm surface.

We speculated that the high wind speeds recorded overnight and that were forecast for the day would likely create hard slabs in the terrain.

It is important to note that we were not in avalanche terrain and these results may not be representative of steeper terrain. On wind sheltered places along the Tuckerman Ravine Trail we found cracks in the softer wind slab. These were most prominent when the snow was isolated like on kick turns. There were subtle hardness changes within the new wind slab, with a slightly firmer wind skin on top.