Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Weather: overcast. Easterly and southerly winds. Lots of active wind transportation happening

Dug a pit on SE aspect just above ~6.1k. Interested to see how the surface hoar present throughout the zone prior to 1/26-27 storm system was bonding with the new storm snow.

HS 110-115. Shear test produced Q3-BRK failure on Knife hard melt/freeze crust at 100cm. Shear test also produced Q2-RP at 70cm and Q3-BRK at 45cm. Compression test produced CTE1-BRK at 105cm on 1/26-27 snow. CTM11-BRK at 95cm on knife hard crust layer. The most notable failure (CTH27-SP) occurred 30cm above ground at an interface between a pencil hard crust and somewhat rounded facets.

As has been the case for about the past month, there are deep layers that could produce some huge slides if triggered - though it seems highly improbable that one would trigger a slide on these layers.