Fear and Whumpfing at Log Cabin

<p>OK, maybe not so much fear, but let's say we kept our guard up... Widespread whumpfing and many shooting cracks observed all day, in trees and at treeline on N aspect of Log Cabin. Cracks were often 5-10m long, a few even longer. We skied short laps on low angle and supported terrain. Good skiing, especially in sheltered areas where the unconsolidated snow is much deeper. We did a quick snowpack test to investigate after a decent whumpf with shooting cracks going around and above us. This was in a treed sheltered area around 1050m: Total depth=115cm, 0-35cm=Fist hard new storm snow, 35-60cm=4 Finger hard previous storm snow, 60-62cm=Facets, 62-70=Facetted crust, 70-115=no measurements, but roughly: one more crust, pencil hard snow, basal facets. Compression test provided a medium result (CT16) with a sudden drop down 60cm on top of the facetted crust. Slope angle was 20 degrees. We noted lots of spatial variability especially at treeline and exposed area. As expected, snow is much more wind affected at treeline, but the facetted crusts were still observed. Photos: 1) compression test result, 2) facets at 60cm, 3) good snow in the trees, 4) Shooting crack along a small cornice above a gully. Zoom in to see a chunk of snow collapsed down at the far end. Triggered from 10m+ away from the edge. 5) wind affected snow at treeline, 6) let’s all poke the snow pit! :) </p>