Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

Toured from 6900 up to 12800′ today in the South Fork of Big Pine Drainage. Goals for the day were to get some more info about the distribution of the MFcr/FC persistent weak layer on SE-S-SW slopes in alpine elevations, and avoid consequential terrain BTL/TL on NE-E-SE slopes.

• Dug in on SE aspect at 9,000, found MFcr with very thin layer of facets. CTN.
• Hand pits up a S/SE facing couloir that has avalanched many times this season revealed a very discontinuous crust, no facets present.
• Dug on S aspect at 11,400′, found MFcr, no facets present.
• Expected more wind slab development near upper ridgelines but they were generally shallow and only broke in localized plates.

Alpine conditions on solars above 9400′ could generously be described as “adventurous”. Real mixed bag out there with breakable, panels of faceting wind board, exposed MFcr from wind stripping, and transitional snow, with the odd pocket of textured surface facets. I kind of like bad skiing, and after 6k of it, was ready to be done for the day.