Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Small (1-2mm) facets or surface hoar on the snow surface in wind sheltered terrain around 6,000’ in elevation. Present on all aspects in the area (W-S-E) and most pronounced on a recently formed surface sun crust. At this elevation, this sun crust was a subtle “zipper” crust, 4 finger to fist hardness.
I didn’t find last week’s buried surface hoar in numerous hasty pits and and hand shears at 6,000’ and higher elevations, though this area was likely too wind affected for surface hoar formation and/or intact burial of surface hoar. I didn’t travel below 6,000’.
No consistent stability test results. A few CT20-25 Q1 results, 30 cm down from the surface, on easterly aspects, but no ECT failure or propagation on this layer, a density change.
Heavily wind affected snow at higher elevations. Some scouring to old refrozen surface on westerly aspects above 7,000’, with firm (1F-4F) wind slab on adjacent east facing deposition zones, and softer but variable surface snow in between.