Peak 7,171

Today we traveled near the head of the Upper Pack River to search for evidence of recent avalanche activity and gather much needed information about the snowpack at upper elevations. We had great visitbility into avalanche terrain , however the natural avalanche activity was much less than we anticipated. We did still observe a few large avalanches which are detailed in the avalanche tab. It is possible that wind redistribution and recent snow has disguised, much of the activity from last week, but we were still shocked at the lack of obviois activity. That said, we are still finding evidence of buried surface hoar and multiple weak layers within the top meter of the snowpack. And signs of instability within our snowpack tests were present despite the lack of observed avalanches.

The snowpack was much quieter today than more recently.

Our snowpack observations today targeted two aspects at upper elevations. North Facing @ 6750 feet and Southeast Facing @ 6800 feet.

NORTH (6750')

• Total depth: 285cm
• Feb13 surface hoar intact (2 to 3mm) down 80cm
• Jan28 PWL down 109cm. Small faceted grains above the this interface (0.3-0.5mm)
• Both persistent weak layers were unreactive in snowpack tests. Test results were non-propagating on two storm intefaces within the upper 50cm of soft recent snow.

 

SOUTHEAST (6800')

• Total depth: 250cm
• Feb13 surface hoar intact (6 to 8mm) down 65cm
• Jan28 PWL down 80cm. Rounded surface hoar and facets at this interface (1 to 3mm)
• Unstable test results on multiple interfaces.
• CT10 PC (x2) at mid storm layer 15cm below the surface
• ECTP30 at Feb13 surface hoar
• CT22 SP and CT26 SP at the Jan28 surface hoar