Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

While out touring we dug a few hand pits and found a somewhat reactive layer buried ~18”. We decided to dial back our ski plans and dig a pit, detailed below:

Aspect: N-NE (20deg)
Elevation: 6500’
Slope angle ~40 (38)
Snow depth: 315cm
Observations:
The Snow varies from light fist snow to firmer 3 fingers/1 finger snow above a fine grained crust at ~20”. Below the crust there is softer 3 fingers snow.
This mild up-side down-ness was also observed in pole probe tests.
Below this, the snow continues becoming firmer through 1 finger to pencil/knife near base.

We performed 2 compression tests in this spot:
We observed a smooth surfaced failure at 18” 24 taps.
We observed a second smooth surface failure at 20” 22 taps. This one really sprung out when it failed.
The snow seems to have failed on either side of the same layer buried at ~18”.