Ophir Peak

With significant new snow loading in the forecast for tomorrow, I headed to the Mount Rose zone to check in on the larger surface hoar that was observed prior to snowfall on Jan 2. As suspected, 10 to 15mm surface hoar was buried on northerly aspects in this area. In open areas, I found this SH under about 4 inches of recent new snow and buried 6 inches deep where there was a bit of wind slab on the snow surface. In an isolated area near the summit of Ophir Peak I triggered a collapse and later triggered cracking in a couple of isolated areas. All spots with signs of a reactive PWL had a 2 to 3 inch wind slab on the snow surface with a few inches of softer recent storm snow between the surface slab and the buried SH. I also checked in on the basal facets in this area. They remain weak, dry, and capable of propagating failure with additional new snow loading.

Jan 2 weak layers is this area consisted of old near surface facets in areas with substantial forest canopy and large buried surface hoar on open slopes. PWL was observed on the NW-N-NE aspects that I traveled. I cracked a shallow wind slab in a few places in W aspect terrain. I found old soft recent storm snow below these W aspect wind slabs, no SH or NSFs.