Quick report
While teaching a wilderness medicine course at 11:30 am on an east facing slope of incline peak at 8650 feet with a slope angle of 25 degrees, the total snow depth measured 150 cm. A crust layer from a prior high pressure system was identified at 35 cm below the surface, measuring approximately 15 cm thick. Below this crust, the snowpack consisted of 1F hardness snow continuing to the ground. Stability tests showed consistent results at the crust interface. The first compression test failed at CT8 Q1 at 35 cm. The second compression test failed at CT12 Q1 at the same depth. An extended column test produced an ECT16 Q1 failure at 35 cm. Results showed clean and energetic shears on the crust interface with moderate propagation potential, suggesting a reactive persistent weak layer on this east aspect at mid elevation.