Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Scouted out a route up Zorro Point (above Granite Creek by Mailbox). Dug a pig at 3000' (the base of the run, an open slope) on a west aspect then decided to call it a day. Snow 95-105 cm deep, ECTN3 down 10 cm (overnight snow?), ECTN4 down 20 cm (on the mid-storm warming interface yesterday?), ECTN6 down 30 cm (12/19?), ECTN10 down 40 cm (on the 12/18 crust). No failure below that. Did some hits on the middle of the column just for fun afterwards, and we did see some propagation on the 12/18 crust. F hardness down 60 cm except 4F at crusts 20 cm (mid-storm) and 40 cm down (12/18 crust), 4F to rocks (pictured). Didn't see any facets on the 12/18 crust, but didn't look hard.

The snow was generally soft and weak. The mid-storm crust yesterday was breakable from 1000' up to where we turned around at 3000', making skiing unpleasant, although it wasn't so strong that travel was difficult. The effect of a strong layer only a few inches down resulted in collapses (pictured) while traveling on flat terrain in the open, but not elsewhere.

The sun never properly came out today. Was ~20 F all day.