Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

AIARE L1 groups went out today to Knolls and EQ Dome to track surface forms related to aspect and incline, traveling over SE, E, N, and NE terrain, and to map weak surface snow in advance of another round of intense winter weather.

• East facing slopes were a mixed bag, with variable melt-freeze crusts overlying cold, dry facets, and near-surface facets. The steeper the angle, the more pronounced the crusts.
• SE is transitional, with up to 10cm of melt forms overlying moistened facets. By midday this had softened and provided good supportable pseudo-corn skiing, though by 1400 was refreezing.
• N/NE aspects are still predominantly near-surface F hard facets, 10-15cm in depth, overlying progressively harder old snow. No windslab was observed in this sheltered BTL location, and no signs of instability was noted.