Observation: Bear Trap

Dug full depth snowpit on due south facing slope with avy 1 class. Snow depth was 180 cm. Early season (Dec-Nov) facets near bottom of snowpack were mostly rounding, wet, and generally present at the bottom 50cm of the pit. Column test produced CT18 above notable crust 105 cm from ground, and CT28 within a small graupel layer above the crusted new snow/snow interface ~120 cm from ground. Extended column test resulted in ECTP24 failing on small faceted grains directly above 105 cm crust, and ECTN18 at graupel around new snow/ old snow interface.

105 cm crust likely represents warmer period at the end of January.

Crust at new snow/old snow interface likely formed last Sunday before the last storm rolled in.

New snow at surface stayed cold until about noon, after which top cms of snow became slightly damp and crusted by later in the afternoon.