Snowpack

Observation: Hypodermic Needle

LCSalt Lake
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Aspect
East
Red Flags
Wind Loading, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
Elevation
2896 m

Ended up bailing in the needle yesterday after digging a pit about 150 feet up the apron. 6 foot deep pit reveled the PWL with pretty hard slab on top. When performing the extended column test, the column propagated before we could even isolate it...SOoo ECT 0. Upon further inspection of the area surrounding the pit we found the PWL had varying depths. In places the facets were much closer to the surface between 3-4 feet down. We concluded that due to the varying depth of the week layer underneath a pretty heathy slab it was unsafe to continue. We ended up skiing something more low angle but in the same drainage. .

Snowpack

Instability Comment
<p>PWL evident with variable depths.</p> <p>The surface of the snow was pretty wind swept with variable pockets of snow. One instance of collapsing noted when traveling uphill into the apron. </p>