McMurdo Hut area

Our group spent 5 days (20190130-20190203) skiing around the McMurdo Hut on the slopes South of the Hut onto the Spillimacheen Glacier, the Beverly Col and the Silent Pass area. We skied AL slopes (N, NE, NW, W), TL and BTL (E, N W, SE) up to 2600m. AL, TL areas were wind effected and variable ski conditions. BTL was good quality skiing with ~15-20cm ski pen. HS ranged from 200cm (TL) to 120cm and 240cm (BTL). Test pits at TL revealed no buried SH layer nor compression test results in wind effected areas (slopes S of the hut) and buried SH down 50cm with easy fracture (CTV) in non-wind affected areas BLT (Silent Pass area). The cold temps that were arriving on our final day seemed to be showing signs of fresh surface hoar.

Our group observed multiple sz 1 fractures, most on convex features on many aspects, all BTL and in a cut block throughout the day and the previous day, 20190201. It is safe to say that we stayed on slopes less than 30 degrees.

Our temps ranged from -2 (20190201) to -12 (20190203). Clouds ranged from broken, overcast to fog. Precipitation from S-1 to S 2 and overall HST 39cms (storm started 20190201). Winds ranged from Calm (BTL) to Light gusting to Moderate/Strong (TL, AL).

We did 1 test and the snowpack fractured while cutting our test block (CTV down 50). We also observed a (sun?) crust layer down 35cm.