Boulder Creek

Below treeline observation in an open talus/alder glade. Snowpack depth varied from 140-180 cm. Alder was mostly pressed down by the lower 1 m of the snowpack. The lower 1 m, among the alder, was quite faceted and in the 1 finger hardness range. The upper snowpack was comprised mostly of decomposing fragments, with a layer of pencil hard rounds between 30 cm down and 45 cm down from the surface. Two old layers of decomposing surface hoar between 2 and 6 mm in size were found at 30 cm and 40 cm down from the surface. Both of these layers produced sudden compression tests in the hard range. No other weaknesses observed in the upper snowpack. Hazard was low in this location but with the weak snow near the base of the snowpack I would be suspect of shallow snowpack areas and slopes with smooth ground cover.