Public Observation

Observation Details

Observations

While skinning up towards Smuggler's Knob, I noticed cracking and collapsing under my splitboard (not shooting cracks). It happened on all NW to NE aspects on which I travelled, so I wanted to check out what was going on in the snowpack. I first dug a quick handpit which showed a thick crust layer with sugary facets about 6 inches below. Boot penetration about 4-6 inches.

After digging a very rough snowpit on a NW aspect, I found a 1inch freeze/thaw crust with about 6 inches of sugary facets underneath. This was followed by another freeze/crust layer and another 2-3 inches of facets below. Another freeze/thaw crust was present at the very base. Total snowpack 45 inches on this sunny aspect.

Signs of Unstable Snow