Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Rachel and I toured out Bullion Basin to do some mellow, low angle skiing and dig a snowpit. We left the parking lot at 8am and returned by 12:30pm. We dug at 6,070 on a SE aspect below treeline
Weather- Overcast, lightly snowing, air temp 14 F, SW wind 10mph (ish). Sun poked out for a minute right around 11:30 am
Snowpack Test- Snowpack Height= 160cm, Elevation= 6,070, Aspect= SE Slope Angle= 38 degrees. 160 to 120 was fist hardness, new precipitation particles. 120- 80 was four finger hardness decomposing fragments, 80-62 also four finger, 62-52 was 1 finger hardness, 52-47 was pencil hardness melt freeze crust likely the 12/8 crust, 47-40 was four finger, 40 to 0(ish) was one finger hardness. Compression test showed CTH3 at the 120 layer of newish snow. A deep tap test showed DTN but upon pulling out the isolated column, it was quite consolidated.
Frozen fingers and lack of ECT rope limited our ability to perform this test. Did not ski much other than turning the snow pit into a backcountry kicker