Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

We skied simple terrain with steeper options in the paradise backcountry. We observed stable snow where we skied. We dug a pit in a S facing slope at 28 degrees at 5800ft elevation. We observed 20cm of fist powder with a small 4f crust at 20cm, followed by 15cm fist powder and soft 1 finger crust. 5 more cm of 4F powder and then the knife hard 1/13 crust at 40cm. We did an extended column test, ECTN with a small break at shoulder on 20cm crust. This was not a perfect extended column test because we used paracord to cut the column and it couldn't get past the 1/13 crust. In the image you can see the irregular leading edge on the right hand test location- this is where the break occurred, the flat spot above that is from me clearing snow to observe if the break propagated at all (it did not), not from a slab formation. From this test, some in our party would have been comfortable skiing the 35 degree slope at the same aspect, but some in our party were not so we kept to lower angle slopes. Our skiing did cause some very small dry-loose sluff on the portions of short steeper slopes we skied (>30 deg). We did ski two runs on a leeward (N facing) slope, and the there was evidence of wind transported snow, but it was not consolidated in this location. On the skin track out we saw possible evidence far away (see picture) of roller balls on a SW facing slope.