Close
Taos Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 2, 2023
Submitted:
April 3, 2023
Zone or Region:
Santa Fe Area
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Top of Nambe Chutes, 12,100', NNW aspect

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Test pit at 12,100' on NNE aspect above Nambe Chutes. Top 30cm of snowpack was a knife-hardness windslab. Beneath that, varied from 1F to 4F hardness over about 50cm of depth. Base of snowpack was about 50cm of faceted snow.

Unreactive on ECT (ECTX), but shovel shear test with moderate pressure revealed an uneven break on a graupel layer.

Media

Interface below the knife-hard windslab
Block that sheared off during shovel shear test, on a layer of graupel about 55cm below the surface
Graupel pellets
Close