Public Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Overall thin, avg. depth measurements on open north aspects 8-16”, deepest measured 26” surrounding shaded spruce sapling groves. Scrub forest and solar aspects much shallower. Snowpack structure consists of two bonded soft slabs over knife suncrust over decomposing facets over knife suncrust over recrystalized depth hoar. Weak interface in basic shear tests was the new year’s “storm” layer moving on the upper of the two crusts, this and the decomposing lower facets might be the most noteworthy aspects of this observation if and when deeper snow accumulates (February???). Across a two-mile area covered, the layer structure was consistent, though of varying depths. Skiing was nice in the morning, some gloppiness occurring on sunny snow by mid-afternoon. Collapses occurred only on the coldest, driest pockets. The only steep slopes I travelled across were <30’ with no activity. Minimal drifting relative to what you may expect if you’ve skied this area during a snowier winter.