Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Weather at pocket creek snow park (~3800ft) 0700: 30 degrees, SW winds 10-15mph, light snow. temperature stayed stable throughout day with winds staying calm with occasional gusts to 20mph from SSW. Temperature at 1500 (end of trip 32 degrees), snow rate increasing to moderate.
Snow pack had thin crust at starting elevation with underlying snow soft. increasing to mild/moderate crust at mid elevation 4200-4600ft with denser/wetter snow underneath. upper elvations 5000ft and above soft storm snow with minimal wind slab cover.

Heavily treed route and hillside, no signs of natural avalanches, some roller balls from tree fall from recent snow fall rapidly accumulating. moderate sized open slope (300 m X 100m on 40 degree slope) did not have any natural avalanche signs, only viewed from safe distance.

Pit dug at 5600ft, 20 degree slope, showed well consolidated storm snow down 100cm. fist density to 70cm down, 4 finger for last 30cm. compression test showed no breaks through 30 hits, second test broke at 27 hits on 70cm down where snow pack transitioned to 4 finger density layer that was non planar.

*photo note, top line drawn across transition to 4F is where density was felt but not a firm delineation or crust at that spot. second line can be ignored