Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Toured to Alta Vista and the terrain East of Golden Gates down to Paradise Rd. Lots of snow with little evidence of wind transport at the surface, but some density changes that seemed consistent with wind effects in the upper 40-50 cm. Ski pen >40 cm in most locations with VERY soft snow at the surface. At two locations (E, 5800' and S, 6000') hand shears caused this soft snow to collapse, but shovel tilt tests produced planar fractures at both locations (~10 cm E aspect, ~30 cm S aspect).