Snowpack

Observation: Cutler Ridge

Shepard McClellanOgden
View on map
Observation photo 1

Quick report

Aspect
Northwest
Red Flags
Wind Loading, Cracking, Poor Snowpack Structure
Elevation
2499 m

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>Observed wind loading on E-NE aspects above 7200 ft. Slabs varied in depth and hardness. Observed a lot of cracking while skinning but no propagation when stomping on small test slopes. slab was not well bonded in my subjective hand sheer tests. Slab sits on decomposing precipitation particles from last storm. </p> <p>observed widespread faceting on all aspects that held snow from earlier weather events, the layer of facets ranged in depth from 10cm on lower elevations to 40cm on near tree line north aspects. There is a melt freeze crust on top of this layer on all aspects except near tree line north facing shaded slopes. </p>