Old Ski Bowl, Panther Meadow

Todays objective was to assess new snow stability. Pit results, an observed natural avalanche, and the continuing high precipitation intensity has painted a clear picture: instability is on the rise with natural and human triggered avalanches likely to occur. 

Instability could be easily found today. New snow, containing a high amount of water weight, has been deposited across Mount Shasta above 5,500 feet. Cracking within the new snow can be initiated easily with skis, on all observed aspects. A natural avalanche was spotted just above Panther Meadow, below treeline. Snow continued to fall at moderate to high rates through the day, continuing to strain the snowpack. In addition to added weight, this new snow remains dry and easily available for wind transport.

A pit was dug on a southeast aspect, at 8,100 feet, in Old Ski Bowl. Total snow depth was 88 inches (225 cm), though this area had a bit of wind loading adding to the depth. Around 14 inches of new snow from today was found on top of a thin solar crust, with old (January 17) snow below. A thicker crust lied beneath, with dense, well-consolidated snow below.

Upon extended column test (ECT), multiple failures occurred (ECTP5/6/7) within density changes in the new snow, eventually propagating across the column. A more significant propagation occurred on tap 15 (ECTP15), on the upper, thin solar crust.

What does this mean? This means that all the observed instability is associated with the loading of new snow, which will further destabilize the snowpack as more snow continues to fall. 

On a different note, the December 17th-December 30th weak snow could not be found in this area.