Chaffin Creek

We observed generally stable conditions today other than two recent large natural slab avalanches on upper elevation east aspects. They were both likely triggered by natural cornice fall. 

We did not observe any signs of instability other than minor wet loose sluffing, and two large natural slab avalanches on east aspects near 9400 ft, which were likely triggered by cornice fall. One looked recent from the last few days, and the other looked a couple of days older.

We dug a snowpit on a north aspect at 7700 ft and found a total snow depth of 193 cm. There was 90 cm of recent snow resting on a crust with a layer of small facets beneath it. There were also several more crusts buried below and rounding facets buried near the ground. The basal facets have gained considerable strength. An extended column test did not produce any results (ECTX). 

Shaded aspects had dry, powdery snow at the surface and sunny aspects had breakable melt freeze crusts or moist snow at the surface. The snowpack at middle and lower elevations is thin, especially on south aspects. The depth began to increase around 6000 ft on the trail and became significantly deeper above 7000 ft.