Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Key Points

-After discovering the Sherwins Creek Rd and the Lake Mary Rd both being closed, headed back to the Forest Trail Knoll.  Skinning was boot top, to knee deep, to thigh deep at times, but thanks to all who broke a nice trail to follow!

-Some blue skies mixed with clouds, and light winds by the late afternoon.  Very strong SW winds at all elevations this morning … especially early morning, with LOTS of snow blowing off the tops of Mt Laurel, Bloody, Pyramid Peak, the Sherwins, mid elevation treed terrain, and off the rooftops of houses in town.

-The southerly aspects were very wind effected and variable except in the most sheltered trees.  The northerly aspect was very protected with uniform soft snow.  Lots of evidence of sizable cornice failures earlier in the day off the high point in the usual location.

-Dug quick pit on sheltered northerly aspect at 8,400′: 200cm total snow depth, 130cm new snow from this storm ontop of a thin melt-freeze crust ontop of snow from previous storm in December.  No old Oct/Nov snow here, therefore no basal facet/weak layer.  ECTs resulted in no propagating failures, with only a couple subtle shovel wide cracks, and CT test resulted in one Q2 failure with 10 taps 25cm down in very subtle storm density change.  Mostly upright snowpack except for a softer 10cm thick  fist plus layer toward the bottom of the new snow.

-Stomped around on a few different wind loaded steeper rolls on the SE aspect, but got no cracking.  No real signs of instability other than the cornice failures on the ridge top on this short limited tour, and all the wind blowing snow seen from town earlier in the day.