Observation: Pink Pine

Great surface riding conditions on mid-elevations. Where we were, we didn't see too much sluffing, but in a few steep pockets, the new low-density snow was running fast and far.

Where we stuck our shovels in we were able to find a poor snow structure, with weak old facets at the ground with a general right side up the slab on top of it. While we were unable to get any results in the October/November facets I still don't trust it. While digging a pit, what I did find concerning was a few new/old snow interfaces. Between each storm system, it has been a mixture of precipitation particles and graupel. The graupel fell on a variation of snow surfaces, from loose dense snow to bulletproof windboard. When we did an extended column test, the only results we were able to get were within the old snow interface and a new graupel layer.

As we continue to add water to these varying snow surfaces I would be initially concerned about new snow avalanches, and then this lurking poor snow structure.

Photos of snowpit profile and new snow accumulation on a small tree.

Surprised at the amount accumulating new snow. Low-density recent precipitation sitting on a variety of surface characteristics.

In the trees, and protected terrain features, the snow sat on dense loose snow. In areas that had wind, solar, or previous ski tracks the new snow sat on a crust layer or firm surface.