Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 3018 m
- Slope Angle
- 32°
As the snow pack seems to stabilize, I was curious to see any changes in the snow over a short period since Dave was in the area on the 26th (see observation here). We put our pit about 50M from where Dave had dug. We dug in a little more protected area than Dave and had a snow depth about 50 cm less deep.
Similar to other observers, we were curious as to the strength of the slab and 'wrestled' it apart after no results from our ECT test (see photo below). We were able to pull the entire slab away almost to the ground.
The propagation saw test was interesting in the fact that the layer did not fail with cutting, but once the layer was isolated, the shallow slab did release with a significant amount of energy sliding quickly off the entire column.
We did not experience any of the collapsing or cracking that was found on the 26th, but there was significant wind effect on the ridge.
I feel the snow pack is stabilizing in deeper areas, but would still be very concerned about any shallow pockets that could release and propagate. I will be keeping my slope choices to more open areas with a deeper snow pack and be staying away from rock bands, narrow shots, and other areas that could have shallow pockets.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>As other observers have indicated, our test results tend to show a stabilizing snow pack. Based on our pit results and other observations in shallow snow pack areas, I still believe there is a considerable danger of finding pockets of thin and weak snow that could release and propagate into the deeper snow pack.</p>
The ridge line had a significant wind crust, but we did not experience any cracking or collapsing.