Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 1, 2022
Submitted:
January 1, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Katie Warren
Zone or Region:
East Central
Location:
Dirtyface (2000ft-5500ft S & E aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Large laid over SH on Dirtyface.
Dirtyface at 4000ft. Surface hoar crystals may end up as a weak layer with additional snow load.
Generally strong snowpack at 5500ft on Dirtyface. However, there is some small faceted grains above and below the Solstice crust. Top crystal card marks Solstice crust down 60cm. Lower crystal card marks 12/18 crust buried 75cm.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
12°F
Wind:
Moderate , NW

Cold and mostly clear skies. Winds were light early in the day and picked up in the late afternoon.

Snowpack Observations

Traveled via the summer trail up to just below the ridge on Dirtyface. The day started out calm and cold with some moderate winds picking up in the late afternoon. Minimal clouds and sunshine were nice to warm the face. We found a generally strong snowpack, although the prolonged cold temperatures have created some small facets in the upper snowpack.

Between 3500 and 4500ft, there are some large surface hoar crystals on the snow surface. These crystals are laying down and may have actually been blown off tree branches, rather than grown on the snow surface. But however they landed on the snow surface, they will be something to keep in mind as we get additional snow.

There was also a sun crust on steep solar aspects.

Dug a pit at 5500ft on a SE aspect.
HS 155cm
Generally strong right-side-up snowpack, small facets were observed above and below the Solstice crust which is now buried by approximately 60cm of snow. Did not get any results on compression tests.


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