Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Wind Loading, Collapsing, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
Some observations from memory from an AAI Rec Level 2 1/18-1/20:
Dug on NE aspect of the shoulder of Patsy Marley, 9575', 25*, HS about 250 cm, Test Depth about150 cm, Various uninteresting CT failures in the "new" snow, ECTX. December Drought Layer was down 175 cm here.
Dug two pits on W aspect of Honeycomb, 10332', HS = 135 to 160. Test Depth = HS. Various uninteresting CT failures and ECTX x2. We took turns wailing on it, still nothing. Surprising! December Drought Layer was down 45 cm to 75 cm. It was 4F here.
Dug a quick pit just to look at structure on S aspect between West Desolation Ridge and The Cone. HS 100ish cm. Storm snow on an impenetrable melf freeze crust on ground. No NSFs were present.
While standing on the ridge west of Lake Desolation on 1/19, my student Matt Woods experienced a collapse so violent it shook snow from the trees.