Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- widespread
I observed frequent, widespread collapsing on North-facing/shaded slopes from ~10,000'-11'400. The most frequent and significant collapses occurred in the lower reaches of Snowslide canyon on the north aspects especially with shade present where there would have been a more significant layer of the late Jan layer within the snowpack. No recent avalanches were observed on the tour. As I traveled up from lockett meadow road into snowslide canyon, I experienced frequent collapsing and occasionally shooting cracks that propagated slope wide. These signs of instability stayed consistent until reaching the more exposed solar aspects where the late Jan layer was not present.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Snowpack
After taking a closer look at the snowpack on a North aspect at 11,400' in Snowslide canyon, I observed a clear weak layer about 50cm down in the snowpack at the late Jan/Feb 14 interface. There was a 50cm dense slab of new snow with moderate wind affect sitting on top of a thin ice crust on top of heavily facetted snow from the late January storm cycle. This ice crust is the sliding surface for the new snow load. Test results are as follows: CT14@40cm RP; ECTP21@40cm; PST 35/120cmEND. These results all occurred on the new/old snow interface about halfway down in the snowpack.