Snowpack

Observation: Alta Periphery

Kelly, KellySalt Lake
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Aspect
North
Elevation
2987 m
Slope Angle
30°

Isothermic ( close to 0°C snow temperatures) snow pit with a stout rain crust on the surface. Grains were showing signs of rounding. We had an extended column test with no results, but were able to get failure with hard shovel shears on the rain soaked dirty graupel layer 59cm from the ground. Stepping out of our skis in unskied terrain we were sinking to the ground through the wet snow.

Photo of rounding depth hoar near the ground.

Seemed low where we went as things stand right now. Supportable surface up in the highest elevations, breakable in the mids, and mush down in lower elevation. Isothermic where we dug and poked around.

Snowpack

Snow surface was wind affected graupel on top of a rain crust.  The rain crust was supportable in some places and breakable in others.

 

Photo of surface rain crust @ 9,400'