Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Some cracking within the top 10-15 cm of storm snow between switchbacks. This snow lacked cohesion and did not propagate in extended column tests but easily produced shear failure on slopes over 35 degrees.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Not recorded
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 10-35cm
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
The weather was changing by the minute with fast-moving clouds and sun breaks moving through the pass. Light to moderate S SE wind was transporting snow at ridgtops.
Snowpack
Snow depth increased steadily with elevation with some variation due to wind redistribution. 10-35cm of storm snow was observed to be well-bonded to old surfaces below, although several weaknesses were present within the recent storm snow. The most notable layer was down 10-15cm. Lighter density snow on top of a stiff layer would easily fail with hand shears but lacked the cohesiveness necessary to propagate in Extended Column Tests. Drifting snow at ridgetops is expected to create pockets of Storm/Wind Slab 2-4 feet deep in some areas.