Magnum

We have relatively right side up snowpack but we still are seeing two buried surface hoar layers in sheltered areas around Turnagain Pass. Surface conditions in the alpine are variable and crusty, but there are some pockets of soft surface snow in sheltered regions. We dug a pit on a south aspect at 3100 ft and had no significant results, but two persistent buried surface hoar layers and near surface faceting existed at this pit location. Lack of unstable results is a sign that these layers are building strength right now but there could be other locations where triggering an avalanche on these weak layers is possible. There are some pockets of soft surface snow available for transport if outflow winds increase.

Large surface hoar crystals observed above a thick crust from the parking area up to 1600'. Above 1600' surface hoar diminished and the snow consisted of a variable crust (0.5 to 2 inches thick) above a sugary facet layer.  We dug a pit in a wind sheltered location on the south side of Magnum around 3100'.  The snowpack was right side up with two notable weak layers of buried surface hoar/facets.  We did not have significant results during our extended column test on these layers or any other layers in the snowpack (ECTX). These results indicate that these layers are not very reactive in this location and building strength although this may not be the case if they are more well preserved or close to the surface in other locations. Our main concern at this location, is the near surface faceting and the possibilty of wind slabs buiding over this weak surface snow (if winds pickup again).