Lions Rock

Blewett is a particularly windy and shallow place, and my observations reflected that. I found extensive wind scouring and transport on all westerly aspects. In the trees were large dirfts and continued ripple snow surfaces. North and easterly aspects were comparatively wind-loaded, and this is where I was able to trigger a small avalanche.

I experienced collapsing and cracking along the ridgeline of Owl Creek Bowl. One of these long shooting cracks resulted in a small avalanche. It released in a wind loaded area but slid on weak faceted snow.

I dug a pit on a northwest aspect at 6000 ft. The depth of this pit was 73in/186cm. At the surface, I found small grains of surface hoar. I found a 14in/36cm slab of soft recent snow overlaying the January Drought Layer which was rounding in this pit. At the Solstice Crust, the grains were still large and well faceted. I performed a compression test and got a sudden moderate result within the slab of recent snow (I believe this happened at the 02/13 interface which has been observed to be surface hoar and crusts in other areas) (CT18SC). I performed an extended column test and got a moderate non-propagating result at the JDL (ECTN19). I performed a propagation saw test at the JDL and recent snow interface and got a short saw cut and slab self arresting result (PST35/100Arr).

In general, the snow was dry at all observed aspects. I did observe both old and new rollerballs on various aspects throughout the day, but not very many overall. Rime was breaking off trees throughout the way when gusts of wind blew.