Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Our group traveled through Bagley Lakes Basin to the boulder field and Herman Gulch ridge, and dug pits on a NE aspect at 4700' to conduct snowpack tests. Variable snow surfaces, many ski tracks made travel challenging.

Light to moderate winds, increasing overcast cloud cover, very light snowfall (S-1).

No new avalanches observed, though visibility was low.

We found and stomped on an isolated, wind-loaded test slope, most of which proved un-reactive. In one case, a thin, weak wind slab broke off, but did not propagate. Hand shear tests on south and southwest facing slopes yielded crusts up to an inch thick, with surface hoar on top. We found facets from the November 25th crust within snow profiles, and test results were CTN, DTN, ECTN 24, PST 97/100 ARR at 92 cm down. A compression test in a second pit yielded CTH SP 93 cm down in the same crust facet layer.