Chair Peak

We took a walk up the Alpental Valley with the goal of getting onto a high, shaded aspect to look at the upper snowpack. We were focusing our observations on the snow above the 2/7 interface, specifically, if there was buried weak snow at the 2/13. Unfortunately, there is. The good news for now is that while this layer was highlighted in tilt and shear tests, it did not propagate a fracture during an extended column test. 

Aside from doing some snow science work, we observed a handful of recent avalanches, including one new slide. 

Travel was ok, but still thin for this time of the year. We had to take our skis off a couple of times and narrowly avoided a few holes.

Great riding conditions on shaded aspects.

We observed several old and one new avalanche while we were out.

The upper snowpack is variable, to say the least. On slopes that often receive direct sunshine, particularly at lower and middle elevations, we found a crusty surface - sometimes breakable, sometimes firm. However, up by the Thumbtack, the snow was still relatively dry, despite being on a sun-exposed slope. 

On the shaded half of the dial, the upper snowpack remains cold and dry.

We found the 2/13 interface down about 10 inches (down 27cm) and identified 3-4mm surface hoar at this layer. The thin grey line can be difficult to identify if you don't have a clean pit wall, but once you get it cleaned up, it will pop out at you.

The 2/7 crust was another 4'ish inches below the 2/13 (down 37cm) and was quite stout. You'll know it when you get there. There is some weak snow below the 2/7 as you start to get into a large complex of melt forms and crusts.